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。
Who can compare to the truly wise? Who knows how to interpret things? If you have wisdom your face lights up, and your stern look is softened.
2 我劝你遵守王的命令；既指 神起誓，理当如此。
My advice is to do what the king says, since that's what you promised 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。
Don't be quick to walk out on the king without thinking what you're doing, and don't get involved with those who plot against him, for the king can do what he pleases.
4 王的话本有权力，谁敢问他说“你做什么”呢？
The king's orders have supreme authority—who is going to question him, saying, “What are you doing?”
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。
Those who follow his commands will not be involved in doing evil. Wise people think, recognizing there's a right time, and a right way.
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。
For there's a right time and a right way for everything, even when things are going badly for you.
7 他不知道将来的事，因为将来如何，谁能告诉他呢？
No one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
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。
No one can hold onto the breath of life; no one can prevent the day when they die. There's no way of escaping that battle, and the wicked won't be saved by their wickedness!
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。
I examined all these things, and thought about all that happens here on earth, and the damage that's caused when people dominate others.
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。
Yes, I have seen wicked people buried with great honor. They used to go to the holy place, and were praised in the very city where they did their evil. This is hard to understand!
11 因为断定罪名不立刻施刑，所以世人满心作恶。
When people are not punished quickly for their crimes they are even more determined to do wrong.
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。
Even though a sinner may do wrong a hundred times, and live a long life, I'm convinced that those who do what God says will be better off.
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。
In fact, the wicked will not live long, passing like a shadow, because they refuse to follow God.
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。
Another thing that is hard to understand is this: good people are treated as the wicked should be, and the wicked are treated as good people should be. As I say, this is difficult to comprehend!
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。
So I recommend enjoying life. There's nothing better for us here on earth than to eat and drink and be happy. Such an attitude will go with us as we work, and as we live our lives that God gives us here on earth.
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。）
When I applied my mind to discovering wisdom and observing everything people do here on earth, I couldn't get any sleep, day or night.
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。
Then I studied everything God does, and I realized that no one can fully understand what happens here. However, hard they try, however wise they claim to be, they can't really comprehend it.
