傳道書 3
1 凡事都有定期， 天下萬務都有定時。
To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven.
2 生有時，死有時； 栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
A time of birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted;
3 殺戮有時，醫治有時； 拆毀有時，建造有時；
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to pull down, and a time to build up;
4 哭有時，笑有時； 哀慟有時，跳舞有時；
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to lament, and a time to dance;
5 拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時； 懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；
a time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing;
6 尋找有時，失落有時； 保守有時，捨棄有時；
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 撕裂有時，縫補有時； 靜默有時，言語有時；
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;
8 喜愛有時，恨惡有時； 爭戰有時，和好有時。
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？
What advantage [has] he that works in those things wherein he labours?
10 我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。
I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.
11 上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裏。然而上帝從始至終的作為，人不能參透。
All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.
12 我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善；
I know that there is no good in them, except [for a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是上帝的恩賜。
Also [in the case of] every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, [this] is a gift of God.
14 我知道上帝一切所做的都必永存；無所增添，無所減少。上帝這樣行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。
I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done [it], that [men] may fear before him.
15 現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且上帝使已過的事重新再來。
That which has been is now; and whatever things [are appointed] to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.
16 我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one.
17 我心裏說，上帝必審判義人和惡人；因為在那裏，各樣事務，一切工作，都有定時。
And I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.
18 我心裏說，這乃為世人的緣故，是上帝要試驗他們，使他們覺得自己不過像獸一樣。
I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are breasts.
19 因為世人遭遇的，獸也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一樣：這個怎樣死，那個也怎樣死，氣息都是一樣。人不能強於獸，都是虛空。
Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity.
20 都歸一處，都是出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
All [go] to one place; all were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust.
21 誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？
And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?
22 故此，我見人莫強如在他經營的事上喜樂，因為這是他的分。他身後的事誰能使他回來得見呢？
And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?
