傳道書 3
1 事事有時節，天下任何事皆有定時：
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2 生有時，死有時，栽種有時，拔除栽種的亦有時；
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain 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 lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 撕裂有時，縫綴有時；緘默有時，言談有時，
a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.
9 工作的人，從勞苦中得了什麼利益﹖
What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
10 我觀察了天主交予人類所應從事的事務，得知：
I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
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。
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even 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 better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
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。
Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the 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 whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before 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 is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
16 我在太陽下還看見：正義之處有不義，公平之處有不平。
Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
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 there for every purpose and for every work.”
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, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
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 happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.
20 都同歸於一處；既都出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
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 knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes 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﹖
Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
