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.
我又轉目注視在太陽下所行的一切暴行：看，受壓迫者眼淚汪流，卻無人安慰；壓迫人者手中只有權勢，卻無人加以援助。
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
於是我聲稱那已死去的人，比現今還活著的人更為有福。
3 Yea, better is he than either of them, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
那還沒有出世的人，比這兩等人更為有福，因為他還沒有見到太陽下所行的惡事。
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.
我也看出各種勞苦和一切工作的技巧，都是出於人彼此間的競爭：這也是空虛，也是追風。
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
愚人交臂叉手，是自食己肉。
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
捧一把安逸，勝過兩把勞苦和追風。
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
我又轉睛，看見在太陽下有件空虛的事：
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
有個孤獨無伴的人，既沒有兒子，又沒有兄弟，卻時常勞苦不息，他的眼總是貪得無厭，從來不問：「我辛辛苦苦，節制享樂，究竟是為誰﹖」這也是空虛和大不幸。
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
兩人勝過一人，因為兩人工作，酬報優厚：
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.
若一個跌倒了，另一個可扶起自己的同伴。哀哉孤獨者! 他若跌倒了，沒有另一人扶起他來。
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
又如兩人同眠，都感溫暖；若孤獨一人，怎能暖和﹖
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
若一人抵不住一人，兩人就能抵住。－－三股繩，不易斷。
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
一個貧寒而明智的青年，勝過一個年老昏愚，而總不採納忠言的君王。
14 For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor.
這青年雖在國中出身貧寒，但由獄中出來，執政為王；
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his position.
我看見一切在太陽下行走的活人，都擁護青年人，新繼位者，來代替老王。
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.
擁護他為領袖的人民，多得無數；但日後，那些後來的人卻不喜歡他：這也是空虛，也是追風。
