傳道書 3
1 凡事都有定期， 天下萬務都有定時。
For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.
2 生有時，死有時； 栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
[There is] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath 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 break 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 mourn, 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 away stones, and a time to gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time to be far 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 let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw 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 keep silence, 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 profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
10 我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。
I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
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。
Every thing hath he made beautiful in its [proper] time: he hath also placed the eternity in their heart, without a man's being able to find out the work that God hath made from the beginning to the end.
12 我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善；
I know that there is nothing good [inherent] in them, but for every one to rejoice and to do what is good during [all] 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。
For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise 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 God doth, that will be for ever; to it nothing can be added, and from it there is nothing to be diminished: and God hath so made it, that men should be afraid of 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 hath been hath long since appeared [again]; and what is to be hath already been; and God seeketh [again] that which is sped away.
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 have seen under the sun, [that in] the place of justice, even there was wickedness; and [that in] the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
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。
I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every pursuit; and on account of every deed there [will he judge].
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 speaking of the sons of men, that God might make it clear to them, and that they might see that they by themselves are but beasts.
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。
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even the same thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one kind of spirit: so that the preeminence of man above the beast is nought; for all is vanity.
20 都歸一處，都是出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
21 誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？
Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth 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 so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?
