4A generation goes, a generation comes;
the earth stands for all time.
5The sun rises and the sun sets
and rushes to its place where it rises.
6The wind goes to the south
and turns round to the north,
it turns, turns as it goes,
and on its turnings the wind goes back.
7All the wadis go to the sea, but the sea isn’t full;
to the place where the wadis go,
there they go again.
8All the things are laborious;
no one could speak of it.
The eye isn’t replete as regards looking,
the ear isn’t full as regards listening.
9What has happened is what will happen;
what has occurred is what will occur;
there’s nothing new under the sun.
10Where there is a thing that someone says,
‘See this, it’s new’,
Already it has happened
for ages that were before us.
11There is no commemoration for the earlier people,
and also for future people who are to come.
For them there will be no commemoration,
with the people who will be in the future.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen