Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
我又轉念，見日光之下所行的一切欺壓。看哪，受欺壓的流淚，且無人安慰；欺壓他們的有勢力，也無人安慰他們。
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活着的活人。
3 And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
並且我以為那未曾生的，就是未見過日光之下惡事的，比這兩等人更強。
4 Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
我又見人為一切的勞碌和各樣靈巧的工作就被鄰舍嫉妒。這也是虛空，也是捕風。
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
有人孤單無二，無子無兄，竟勞碌不息，眼目也不以錢財為足。他說：「我勞勞碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福樂，到底是為誰呢？」這也是虛空，是極重的勞苦。
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
10 For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。
11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。
13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
貧窮而有智慧的少年人勝過年老不肯納諫的愚昧王。
14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。
15 I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
我見日光之下一切行動的活人都隨從那第二位，就是起來代替老王的少年人。
16 There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
他所治理的眾人就是他的百姓，多得無數；在他後來的人尚且不喜悅他。這真是虛空，也是捕風。
