Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.
凡事都有定期， 天下萬務都有定時。
2 There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
生有時，死有時； 栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up.
殺戮有時，醫治有時； 拆毀有時，建造有時；
4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
哭有時，笑有時； 哀慟有時，跳舞有時；
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.
拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時； 懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；
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,
尋找有時，失落有時； 保守有時，捨棄有時；
7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
撕裂有時，縫補有時； 靜默有時，言語有時；
8 There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
喜愛有時，恨惡有時； 爭戰有時，和好有時。
9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？
10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。
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.
上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裏。然而上帝從始至終的作為，人不能參透。
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，莫強如終身喜樂行善；
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.
並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是上帝的恩賜。
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.
我知道上帝一切所做的都必永存；無所增添，無所減少。上帝這樣行，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.
現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且上帝使已過的事重新再來。
16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。
17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”
我心裏說，上帝必審判義人和惡人；因為在那裏，各樣事務，一切工作，都有定時。
18 I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”
我心裏說，這乃為世人的緣故，是上帝要試驗他們，使他們覺得自己不過像獸一樣。
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?
因為世人遭遇的，獸也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一樣：這個怎樣死，那個也怎樣死，氣息都是一樣。人不能強於獸，都是虛空。
20 Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.
都歸一處，都是出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
21 Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？
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，我見人莫強如在他經營的事上喜樂，因為這是他的分。他身後的事誰能使他回來得見呢？
