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。
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活着的活人。
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
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。
And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are 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。
Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：
While considering this, I also discovered another 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。
He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
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。
If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
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 a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
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 boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
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 saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
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。
The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
