Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
名誉强如美好的膏油；人死的日子胜过人生的日子。
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
往遭丧的家去， 强如往宴乐的家去； 因为死是众人的结局， 活人也必将这事放在心上。
3 Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.
忧愁强如喜笑； 因为面带愁容，终必使心喜乐。
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
智慧人的心在遭丧之家； 愚昧人的心在快乐之家。
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
听智慧人的责备， 强如听愚昧人的歌唱。
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.
愚昧人的笑声， 好像锅下烧荆棘的爆声； 这也是虚空。
7 Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
勒索使智慧人变为愚妄； 贿赂能败坏人的慧心。
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
事情的终局强如事情的起头； 存心忍耐的，胜过居心骄傲的。
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
你不要心里急躁恼怒， 因为恼怒存在愚昧人的怀中。
10 Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.
不要说： 先前的日子强过如今的日子， 是什么缘故呢？ 你这样问，不是出于智慧。
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.
智慧和产业并好， 而且见天日的人得智慧更为有益。
12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
因为智慧护庇人， 好像银钱护庇人一样。 惟独智慧能保全智慧人的生命。 这就是知识的益处。
13 Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?
你要察看 神的作为； 因 神使为曲的，谁能变为直呢？
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
遇亨通的日子你当喜乐；遭患难的日子你当思想；因为 神使这两样并列，为的是叫人查不出身后有什么事。
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.
有义人行义，反致灭亡；有恶人行恶，倒享长寿。这都是我在虚度之日中所见过的。
16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
不要行义过分，也不要过于自逞智慧，何必自取败亡呢？
17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?
不要行恶过分，也不要为人愚昧，何必不到期而死呢？
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.
你持守这个为美，那个也不要松手；因为敬畏 神的人，必从这两样出来。
19 Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
智慧使有智慧的人比城中十个官长更有能力。
20 For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
时常行善而不犯罪的义人，世上实在没有。
21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
人所说的一切话，你不要放在心上，恐怕听见你的仆人咒诅你。
22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
因为你心里知道，自己也曾屡次咒诅别人。
23 All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
我曾用智慧试验这一切事；我说，要得智慧，智慧却离我远。
24 That which is is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
万事之理，离我甚远，而且最深，谁能测透呢？
25 I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
我转念，一心要知道，要考察，要寻求智慧和万事的理由；又要知道邪恶为愚昧，愚昧为狂妄。
26 and I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands; whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
我得知有等妇人比死还苦：她的心是网罗，手是锁链。凡蒙 神喜悦的人必能躲避她；有罪的人却被她缠住了。
27 Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;
传道者说：“看哪，一千男子中，我找到一个正直人，但众女子中，没有找到一个。”我将这事一一比较，要寻求其理，我心仍要寻找，却未曾找到。
28 which yet my soul sought, but I found not; one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
我所找到的只有一件，就是 神造人原是正直，但他们寻出许多巧计。
