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。
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.
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 praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
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。
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.
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。
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.
5 愚人交臂叉手，是自食己肉。
The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
6 捧一把安逸，勝過兩把勞苦和追風。
Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
7 我又轉睛，看見在太陽下有件空虛的事：
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
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 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.
9 兩人勝過一人，因為兩人工作，酬報優厚：
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
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 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.
11 又如兩人同眠，都感溫暖；若孤獨一人，怎能暖和﹖
Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
12 若一人抵不住一人，兩人就能抵住。－－三股繩，不易斷。
And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily 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 poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
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 the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
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 behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
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 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.
