传道书 8
1 谁如智慧人呢？ 谁知道事情的解释呢？ 人的智慧使他的脸发光， 并使他脸上的暴气改变。
The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.
2 我劝你遵守王的命令；既指 神起誓，理当如此。
I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.
3 不要急躁离开王的面前，不要固执行恶，因为他凡事都随自己的心意而行。
Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:
4 王的话本有权力，谁敢问他说“你做什么”呢？
And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?
5 凡遵守命令的，必不经历祸患；智慧人的心能辨明时候和定理。
He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.
6 各样事务成就都有时候和定理，因为人的苦难重压在他身上。
There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:
7 他不知道将来的事，因为将来如何，谁能告诉他呢？
Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.
8 无人有权力掌管生命，将生命留住；也无人有权力掌管死期；这场争战，无人能免；邪恶也不能救那好行邪恶的人。
It is not in man’s power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.
9 这一切我都见过，也专心查考日光之下所做的一切事。有时这人管辖那人，令人受害。
All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
10 我见恶人埋葬，归入坟墓；又见行正直事的离开圣地，在城中被人忘记。这也是虚空。
I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.
11 因为断定罪名不立刻施刑，所以世人满心作恶。
For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.
12 罪人虽然作恶百次，倒享长久的年日；然而我准知道，敬畏 神的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，终久必得福乐。
But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.
13 恶人却不得福乐，也不得长久的年日；这年日好像影儿，因他不敬畏 神。
But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the Lord.
14 世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反照恶人所行的；又有恶人所遭遇的，反照义人所行的。我说，这也是虚空。
There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure, as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.
15 我就称赞快乐，原来人在日光之下，莫强如吃喝快乐；因为他在日光之下， 神赐他一生的年日，要从劳碌中，时常享受所得的。
Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
16 我专心求智慧，要看世上所做的事。（有昼夜不睡觉不合眼的。）
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.
17 我就看明 神一切的作为，知道人查不出日光之下所做的事；任凭他费多少力寻查，都查不出来，就是智慧人虽想知道，也是查不出来。
And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it.
