Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who can compare to the truly wise? Who knows how to interpret things? If you have wisdom your face lights up, and your stern look is softened.
誰如智慧人呢？ 誰知道事情的解釋呢？ 人的智慧使他的臉發光， 並使他臉上的暴氣改變。
2 My advice is to do what the king says, since that's what you promised God.
我勸你遵守王的命令；既指上帝起誓，理當如此。
3 Don't be quick to walk out on the king without thinking what you're doing, and don't get involved with those who plot against him, for the king can do what he pleases.
不要急躁離開王的面前，不要固執行惡，因為他凡事都隨自己的心意而行。
4 The king's orders have supreme authority—who is going to question him, saying, “What are you doing?”
王的話本有權力，誰敢問他說「你做甚麼」呢？
5 Those who follow his commands will not be involved in doing evil. Wise people think, recognizing there's a right time, and a right way.
凡遵守命令的，必不經歷禍患；智慧人的心能辨明時候和定理。
6 For there's a right time and a right way for everything, even when things are going badly for you.
各樣事務成就都有時候和定理，因為人的苦難重壓在他身上。
7 No one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
他不知道將來的事，因為將來如何，誰能告訴他呢？
8 No one can hold onto the breath of life; no one can prevent the day when they die. There's no way of escaping that battle, and the wicked won't be saved by their wickedness!
無人有權力掌管生命，將生命留住；也無人有權力掌管死期；這場爭戰，無人能免；邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。
9 I examined all these things, and thought about all that happens here on earth, and the damage that's caused when people dominate others.
這一切我都見過，也專心查考日光之下所做的一切事。有時這人管轄那人，令人受害。
10 Yes, I have seen wicked people buried with great honor. They used to go to the holy place, and were praised in the very city where they did their evil. This is hard to understand!
我見惡人埋葬，歸入墳墓；又見行正直事的離開聖地，在城中被人忘記。這也是虛空。
11 When people are not punished quickly for their crimes they are even more determined to do wrong.
因為斷定罪名不立刻施刑，所以世人滿心作惡。
12 Even though a sinner may do wrong a hundred times, and live a long life, I'm convinced that those who do what God says will be better off.
罪人雖然作惡百次，倒享長久的年日；然而我準知道，敬畏上帝的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。
13 In fact, the wicked will not live long, passing like a shadow, because they refuse to follow God.
惡人卻不得福樂，也不得長久的年日；這年日好像影兒，因他不敬畏上帝。
14 Another thing that is hard to understand is this: good people are treated as the wicked should be, and the wicked are treated as good people should be. As I say, this is difficult to comprehend!
世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反照惡人所行的；又有惡人所遭遇的，反照義人所行的。我說，這也是虛空。
15 So I recommend enjoying life. There's nothing better for us here on earth than to eat and drink and be happy. Such an attitude will go with us as we work, and as we live our lives that God gives us here on earth.
我就稱讚快樂，原來人在日光之下，莫強如吃喝快樂；因為他在日光之下，上帝賜他一生的年日，要從勞碌中，時常享受所得的。
16 When I applied my mind to discovering wisdom and observing everything people do here on earth, I couldn't get any sleep, day or night.
我專心求智慧，要看世上所做的事。（有晝夜不睡覺不合眼的。）
17 Then I studied everything God does, and I realized that no one can fully understand what happens here. However, hard they try, however wise they claim to be, they can't really comprehend it.
我就看明上帝一切的作為，知道人查不出日光之下所做的事；任憑他費多少力尋查，都查不出來，就是智慧人雖想知道，也是查不出來。
