Ecclesiastes 9
1 All this I took to heart, and my heart saw it all: that the upright and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; and men may not be certain if it will be love or hate; all is to no purpose before them.
我将这一切事放在心上，详细考究，就知道义人和智慧人，并他们的作为都在 神手中；或是爱，或是恨，都在他们的前面，人不能知道。
2 Because to all there is one event, to the upright man and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him who makes an offering and to him who makes no offering; as is the good so is the sinner; he who takes an oath is as he who has fear of it.
凡临到众人的事都是一样：义人和恶人都遭遇一样的事；好人，洁净人和不洁净人，献祭的与不献祭的，也是一样。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。
3 This is evil in all things which are done under the sun: that there is one fate for all, and the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; while they have life their hearts are foolish, and after that — to the dead.
在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件祸患，就是众人所遭遇的都是一样，并且世人的心充满了恶；活着的时候心里狂妄，后来就归死人那里去了。
4 For him who is joined to all the living there is hope; a living dog is better than a dead lion.
与一切活人相连的，那人还有指望，因为活着的狗比死了的狮子更强。
5 The living are conscious that death will come to them, but the dead are not conscious of anything, and they no longer have a reward, because there is no memory of them.
活着的人知道必死；死了的人毫无所知，也不再得赏赐；他们的名无人记念。
6 Their love and their hate and their envy are now ended; and they have no longer a part for ever in anything which is done under the sun.
他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，早都消灭了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有分了。
7 Come, take your bread with joy, and your wine with a glad heart. God has taken pleasure in your works.
你只管去欢欢喜喜吃你的饭，心中快乐喝你的酒，因为 神已经悦纳你的作为。
8 Let your clothing be white at all times, and let not your head be without oil.
你的衣服当时常洁白，你头上也不要缺少膏油。
9 Have joy with the woman of your love all the days of your foolish life which he gives you under the sun. Because that is your part in life and in your work which you do under the sun.
在你一生虚空的年日，就是 神赐你在日光之下虚空的年日，当同你所爱的妻，快活度日，因为那是你生前在日光之下劳碌的事上所得的分。
10 Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going. (Sheol h7585)
凡你手所当做的事要尽力去做；因为在你所必去的阴间没有工作，没有谋算，没有知识，也没有智慧。 (Sheol h7585)
11 And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.
我又转念：见日光之下，快跑的未必能赢；力战的未必得胜；智慧的未必得粮食；明哲的未必得资财；灵巧的未必得喜悦。所临到众人的是在乎当时的机会。
12 Even man has no knowledge of his time; like fishes taken in an evil net, or like birds taken by deceit, are the sons of men taken in an evil time when it comes suddenly on them.
原来人也不知道自己的定期。鱼被恶网圈住，鸟被网罗捉住，祸患忽然临到的时候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
13 This again I have seen under the sun as wisdom and it seemed great to me.
我见日光之下有一样智慧，据我看乃是广大，
14 There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it.
就是有一小城，其中的人数稀少，有大君王来攻击，修筑营垒，将城围困。
15 Now there was in the town a poor, wise man, and he, by his wisdom, kept the town safe. But no one had any memory of that same poor man.
城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。
16 Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.
我就说，智慧胜过勇力；然而那贫穷人的智慧被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。
17 The words of the wise which come quietly to the ear are noted more than the cry of a ruler among the foolish.
宁可在安静之中听智慧人的言语，不听掌管愚昧人的喊声。
18 Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.
智慧胜过打仗的兵器；但一个罪人能败坏许多善事。
