传道书 4

1 我又转念，见日光之下所行的一切欺压。看哪，受欺压的流泪，且无人安慰；欺压他们的有势力，也无人安慰他们。

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and look, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 因此，我赞叹那早已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 并且我以为那未曾生的，就是未见过日光之下恶事的，比这两等人更强。

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 我又见人为一切的劳碌和各样灵巧的工作就被邻舍嫉妒。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5 愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6 满了一把，得享安静，强如满了两把，劳碌捕风。

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

7 我又转念，见日光之下有一件虚空的事：

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 有人孤单无二，无子无兄，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以钱财为足。他说：“我劳劳碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福乐，到底是为谁呢？”这也是虚空，是极重的劳苦。

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.

9 两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了。

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.

11 再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

12 有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

14 这人是从监牢中出来作王，在他国中，生来原是贫穷的。

For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15 我见日光之下一切行动的活人都随从那第二位，就是起来代替老王的少年人。

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

16 他所治理的众人就是他的百姓，多得无数；在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空，也是捕风。

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.