< 传道书 4 >
1 我又转念,见日光之下所行的一切欺压。看哪,受欺压的流泪,且无人安慰;欺压他们的有势力,也无人安慰他们。
So I returned, and considered 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 因此,我赞叹那早已死的死人,胜过那还活着的活人。
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 并且我以为那未曾生的,就是未见过日光之下恶事的,比这两等人更强。
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 我又见人为一切的劳碌和各样灵巧的工作就被邻舍嫉妒。这也是虚空,也是捕风。
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 有人孤单无二,无子无兄,竟劳碌不息,眼目也不以钱财为足。他说:“我劳劳碌碌,刻苦自己,不享福乐,到底是为谁呢?”这也是虚空,是极重的劳苦。
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 两个人总比一个人好,因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 若是跌倒,这人可以扶起他的同伴;若是孤身跌倒,没有别人扶起他来,这人就有祸了。
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 再者,二人同睡就都暖和,一人独睡怎能暖和呢?
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 有人攻胜孤身一人,若有二人便能敌挡他;三股合成的绳子不容易折断。
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 这人是从监牢中出来作王,在他国中,生来原是贫穷的。
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 我见日光之下一切行动的活人都随从那第二位,就是起来代替老王的少年人。
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 他所治理的众人就是他的百姓,多得无数;在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空,也是捕风。
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.