傳道書 4

1 我又轉念，見日光之下所行的一切欺壓。看哪，受欺壓的流淚，且無人安慰；欺壓他們的有勢力，也無人安慰他們。

So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

2 因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活着的活人。

and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

3 並且我以為那未曾生的，就是未見過日光之下惡事的，比這兩等人更強。

Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 我又見人為一切的勞碌和各樣靈巧的工作就被鄰舍嫉妒。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

5 愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

6 滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。

Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.

7 我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：

So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

8 有人孤單無二，無子無兄，竟勞碌不息，眼目也不以錢財為足。他說：「我勞勞碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福樂，到底是為誰呢？」這也是虛空，是極重的勞苦。

There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

9 兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。

Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour.

10 若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

11 再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？

Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]

12 有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。

And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.

13 貧窮而有智慧的少年人勝過年老不肯納諫的愚昧王。

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

14 這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。

For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.

15 我見日光之下一切行動的活人都隨從那第二位，就是起來代替老王的少年人。

I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.

16 他所治理的眾人就是他的百姓，多得無數；在他後來的人尚且不喜悅他。這真是虛空，也是捕風。

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.