Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
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。
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活着的活人。
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
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。
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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。
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
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。
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
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。
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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。
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
貧窮而有智慧的少年人勝過年老不肯納諫的愚昧王。
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
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。
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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。
