< 傳道書 4 >

1 我又轉目注視在太陽下所行的一切暴行:看,受壓迫者眼淚汪流,卻無人安慰;壓迫人者手中只有權勢,卻無人加以援助。
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 於是我聲稱那已死去的人,比現今還活著的人更為有福。
Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3 那還沒有出世的人,比這兩等人更為有福,因為他還沒有見到太陽下所行的惡事。
yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 我也看出各種勞苦和一切工作的技巧,都是出於人彼此間的競爭:這也是空虛,也是追風。
Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 愚人交臂叉手,是自食己肉。
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 捧一把安逸,勝過兩把勞苦和追風。
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
7 我又轉睛,看見在太陽下有件空虛的事:
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 有個孤獨無伴的人,既沒有兒子,又沒有兄弟,卻時常勞苦不息,他的眼總是貪得無厭,從來不問:「我辛辛苦苦,節制享樂,究竟是為誰﹖」這也是空虛和大不幸。
There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 兩人勝過一人,因為兩人工作,酬報優厚:
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 若一個跌倒了,另一個可扶起自己的同伴。哀哉孤獨者! 他若跌倒了,沒有另一人扶起他來。
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
11 又如兩人同眠,都感溫暖;若孤獨一人,怎能暖和﹖
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 若一人抵不住一人,兩人就能抵住。--三股繩,不易斷。
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 一個貧寒而明智的青年,勝過一個年老昏愚,而總不採納忠言的君王。
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14 這青年雖在國中出身貧寒,但由獄中出來,執政為王;
For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 我看見一切在太陽下行走的活人,都擁護青年人,新繼位者,來代替老王。
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16 擁護他為領袖的人民,多得無數;但日後,那些後來的人卻不喜歡他:這也是空虛,也是追風。
There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

< 傳道書 4 >