The same did say [to themselves many of] those who lived before their time; but of no avail to them was all that they had ever achieved:

Thus did the (generations) before them say! But all that they did was of no profit to them.

Those before them said it, yet (all) that they had earned availed them not;

Those before them did say it indeed, but what they earned availed them not.

Those before them had already said it, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.