傳道書 3
1 事事有時節，天下任何事皆有定時：
For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.
2 生有時，死有時，栽種有時，拔除栽種的亦有時；
[There is] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath been planted;
3 殺戮有時，治療有時，拆毀有時，建築有時；
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 哭有時，笑有時，哀悼有時，舞蹈有時；
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 拋石有時，堆石有時；擁抱有時，戒避擁抱亦有時；
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing;
6 尋找有時，遺失有時；保存有時，捨棄有時；
A time to seek, and a time to let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 撕裂有時，縫綴有時；緘默有時，言談有時，
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 愛慕有時，憎恨有時；作戰有時，和睦有時。
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 工作的人，從勞苦中得了什麼利益﹖
What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
10 我觀察了天主交予人類所應從事的事務，得知：
I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
11 天主所行的一切事宜，都很適時，並賜給人認識時事的經歷，但人仍不能明瞭，天主自始至終所做的工作。
Every thing hath he made beautiful in its [proper] time: he hath also placed the eternity in their heart, without a man's being able to find out the work that God hath made from the beginning to the end.
12 於是我明瞭：人類的幸福，只有在此生歡樂享受；
I know that there is nothing good [inherent] in them, but for every one to rejoice and to do what is good during [all] his life.
13 但人人有吃有喝，享受自己一切勞苦之所得，也是天主的恩賜。
For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise a gift of God.
14 我知道：凡天主所行的事，永恒不變，無一可增，無一可減。天主這樣作，是為叫人敬畏他。
I know that whatsoever God doth, that will be for ever; to it nothing can be added, and from it there is nothing to be diminished: and God hath so made it, that men should be afraid of him.
15 現今所有的，早已有過；將來所有有，先前已有過；因為天主必追尋已往的事。
That which hath been hath long since appeared [again]; and what is to be hath already been; and God seeketh [again] that which is sped away.
16 我在太陽下還看見：正義之處有不義，公平之處有不平。
And moreover I have seen under the sun, [that in] the place of justice, even there was wickedness; and [that in] the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
17 我心裏想天主必要審判義人和惡人，因為各種事情和行為，在天主那裏都有其定時。
I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every pursuit; and on account of every deed there [will he judge].
18 我想，天主藉此是為使世人認清自己是誰，看清自己與走獸無異。
I said in my heart concerning the speaking of the sons of men, that God might make it clear to them, and that they might see that they by themselves are but beasts.
19 的確，世人的命運，同走獸的命運，都是一樣：前者怎樣死，後者也怎樣死；氣息都一樣，人並不優於走獸：因為都是虛無。
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even the same thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one kind of spirit: so that the preeminence of man above the beast is nought; for all is vanity.
20 都同歸於一處；既都出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
21 人的氣息是否向上高升，走獸的氣息是否下降地下，有誰知道﹖
Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?
22 因此，我看出：人最好還是享受自己勞苦之所得，因為這是他的命運；有誰能領他去看自己身後的事呢﹖
And so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?
