Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.
凡事都有定期， 天下万务都有定时。
2 There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
生有时，死有时； 栽种有时，拔出所栽种的也有时；
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up.
杀戮有时，医治有时； 拆毁有时，建造有时；
4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
哭有时，笑有时； 哀恸有时，跳舞有时；
5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.
抛掷石头有时，堆聚石头有时； 怀抱有时，不怀抱有时；
6 There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
寻找有时，失落有时； 保守有时，舍弃有时；
7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
撕裂有时，缝补有时； 静默有时，言语有时；
8 There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
喜爱有时，恨恶有时； 争战有时，和好有时。
9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
这样看来，做事的人在他的劳碌上有什么益处呢？
10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
我见 神叫世人劳苦，使他们在其中受经练。
11 God has made everything suitable for its own time. He has also placed eternity in their hearts. But mankind cannot understand the deeds that God has done, from their beginning all the way to their end.
神造万物，各按其时成为美好，又将永生安置在世人心里。然而 神从始至终的作为，人不能参透。
12 I know that there is nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—
我知道世人，莫强如终身喜乐行善；
13 and that everyone should eat and drink, and should understand how to enjoy the good that comes from all his work. This is a gift from God.
并且人人吃喝，在他一切劳碌中享福，这也是 神的恩赐。
14 I know that whatever God does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.
我知道 神一切所做的都必永存；无所增添，无所减少。 神这样行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。
15 Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.
现今的事早先就有了，将来的事早已也有了，并且 神使已过的事重新再来。
16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
我又见日光之下，在审判之处有奸恶，在公义之处也有奸恶。
17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”
我心里说， 神必审判义人和恶人；因为在那里，各样事务，一切工作，都有定时。
18 I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”
我心里说，这乃为世人的缘故，是 神要试验他们，使他们觉得自己不过像兽一样。
19 For the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same fate for them. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. For is not everything just a breath?
因为世人遭遇的，兽也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一样：这个怎样死，那个也怎样死，气息都是一样。人不能强于兽，都是虚空。
20 Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.
都归一处，都是出于尘土，也都归于尘土。
21 Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
谁知道人的灵是往上升，兽的魂是下入地呢？
22 So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?
故此，我见人莫强如在他经营的事上喜乐，因为这是他的分。他身后的事谁能使他回来得见呢？
