Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I returned and saw 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 than them both [did I esteem] him which hath not yet been, who hath 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 Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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 foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
愚人交臂叉手，是自食己肉。
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
捧一把安逸，勝過兩把勞苦和追風。
7 Then I returned and 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 that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is 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 falleth, and hath not another to lift 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 warmth: 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 a man prevail against him that is alone, 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 wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
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 came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
這青年雖在國中出身貧寒，但由獄中出來，執政為王；
15 I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
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 was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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。
