Ecclesiastes 9

1 All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:

我将这一切事放在心上，详细考究，就知道义人和智慧人，并他们的作为都在 神手中；或是爱，或是恨，都在他们的前面，人不能知道。

2 But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.

凡临到众人的事都是一样：义人和恶人都遭遇一样的事；好人，洁净人和不洁净人，献祭的与不献祭的，也是一样。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。

3 This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil, and with contempt while they live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell. (questioned)

在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件祸患，就是众人所遭遇的都是一样，并且世人的心充满了恶；活着的时候心里狂妄，后来就归死人那里去了。

4 There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a living dog is better than a dead lion.

与一切活人相连的，那人还有指望，因为活着的狗比死了的狮子更强。

5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing more, neither have they a reward any more: for the memory of them is forgotten.

活着的人知道必死；死了的人毫无所知，也不再得赏赐；他们的名无人记念。

6 Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy are all perished, neither have they any part in this world, and in the work that is done under the sun.

他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，早都消灭了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有分了。

7 Go then, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with gladness: because thy works please God.

你只管去欢欢喜喜吃你的饭，心中快乐喝你的酒，因为 神已经悦纳你的作为。

8 At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart from thy head.

你的衣服当时常洁白，你头上也不要缺少膏油。

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy unsteady life, which are given to thee under the sun, all the time of thy vanity: for this is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherewith thou labourest under the sun.

在你一生虚空的年日，就是 神赐你在日光之下虚空的年日，当同你所爱的妻，快活度日，因为那是你生前在日光之下劳碌的事上所得的分。

10 Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening. (Sheol h7585)

凡你手所当做的事要尽力去做；因为在你所必去的阴间没有工作，没有谋算，没有知识，也没有智慧。 (Sheol h7585)

11 I turned me to another thing, and I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the learned, nor favour to the skillful: but time and chance in all.

我又转念：见日光之下，快跑的未必能赢；力战的未必得胜；智慧的未必得粮食；明哲的未必得资财；灵巧的未必得喜悦。所临到众人的是在乎当时的机会。

12 Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.

原来人也不知道自己的定期。鱼被恶网圈住，鸟被网罗捉住，祸患忽然临到的时候，世人陷在其中也是如此。

13 This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me to be very great:

我见日光之下有一样智慧，据我看乃是广大，

14 A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.

就是有一小城，其中的人数稀少，有大君王来攻击，修筑营垒，将城围困。

15 Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.

城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。

16 And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard?

我就说，智慧胜过勇力；然而那贫穷人的智慧被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。

17 The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.

宁可在安静之中听智慧人的言语，不听掌管愚昧人的喊声。

18 Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend in one, shall lose many good things.

智慧胜过打仗的兵器；但一个罪人能败坏许多善事。