Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
我又转念，见日光之下所行的一切欺压。看哪，受欺压的流泪，且无人安慰；欺压他们的有势力，也无人安慰他们。
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
因此，我赞叹那早已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。
3 And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
并且我以为那未曾生的，就是未见过日光之下恶事的，比这两等人更强。
4 Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
我又见人为一切的劳碌和各样灵巧的工作就被邻舍嫉妒。这也是虚空，也是捕风。
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
满了一把，得享安静，强如满了两把，劳碌捕风。
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
我又转念，见日光之下有一件虚空的事：
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
有人孤单无二，无子无兄，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以钱财为足。他说：“我劳劳碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福乐，到底是为谁呢？”这也是虚空，是极重的劳苦。
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。
10 For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了。
11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。
13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。
14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
这人是从监牢中出来作王，在他国中，生来原是贫穷的。
15 I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
我见日光之下一切行动的活人都随从那第二位，就是起来代替老王的少年人。
16 There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
他所治理的众人就是他的百姓，多得无数；在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空，也是捕风。
