傳道書 3
1 凡事都有定期， 天下萬務都有定時。
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2 生有時，死有時； 栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain 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 tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.
9 這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？
What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
10 我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。
I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted 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。
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done 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 nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
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 that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the 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 whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should 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 is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed 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。
Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
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 there for every purpose 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, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
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 happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, 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 are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, 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？
Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
