In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.

我专心求智慧，要看世上所做的事。（有昼夜不睡觉不合眼的。）

我专心想要明白智慧，要观看世上所发生的事。有人昼夜不得阖眼睡觉。

我专心想要明白智慧，要观看世上所发生的事。有人昼夜不得阖眼睡觉。

我全心去寻求智慧，观察世上所发生的事，甚至昼夜不眠，

我专心认识智慧，察看世上的劳碌─有人昼夜不眠─

当我用心去明白智慧，去看地上所发生的事——有人昼夜不合眼不睡觉——

我專心求智慧，要看世上所做的事。（有晝夜不睡覺不合眼的。）

我專心想要明白智慧，要觀看世上所發生的事。有人晝夜不得闔眼睡覺。

我專心想要明白智慧，要觀看世上所發生的事。有人晝夜不得闔眼睡覺。

我全心去尋求智慧，觀察世上所發生的事，甚至晝夜不眠，

我專心認識智慧，察看世上的勞碌─有人晝夜不眠─

我用心要認識智慧，要看明地上所常發生的事體；

當我用心去明白智慧，去看地上所發生的事——有人晝夜不合眼不睡覺——

我專心欲明智慧、而察世間之事、有晝夜不寐者、

自是而後、我欲擴吾識見、遍覽天下事、見斯世有人、永朝永夕、不遑假寐、

我專心求智慧、遍覽世間所作之事、見有人晝夜不寢、未遑合目、

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth— people getting no sleep day or night—

I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. I wanted to observe the hard work people do on earth. They don’t close their eyes and go to sleep day or night.

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep,

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth( even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

When I devoted my mind to know wisdom and to see the business which has been done on the earth( even though one should never sleep day or night),

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth( for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth( even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth:( for also[ there is that] neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth( even though eyes see no sleep day or night),

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?

I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.

“ I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.

People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself,“ Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.