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.
我又转念，见日光之下所行的一切欺压。看哪，受欺压的流泪，且无人安慰；欺压他们的有势力，也无人安慰他们。
2 Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
因此，我赞叹那早已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。
3 Yes, better is [he] than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
并且我以为那未曾生的，就是未见过日光之下恶事的，比这两等人更强。
4 Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
我又见人为一切的劳碌和各样灵巧的工作就被邻舍嫉妒。这也是虚空，也是捕风。
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] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] toil and vexation of spirit.
满了一把，得享安静，强如满了两把，劳碌捕风。
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
我又转念，见日光之下有一件虚空的事：
8 There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yes, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yes, it [is] a grievous labor.
有人孤单无二，无子无兄，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以钱财为足。他说：“我劳劳碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福乐，到底是为谁呢？”这也是虚空，是极重的劳苦。
9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。
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 to rise.
若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了。
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，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？
12 And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.
有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。
13 Better [is] a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
这人是从监牢中出来作王，在他国中，生来原是贫穷的。
15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
我见日光之下一切行动的活人都随从那第二位，就是起来代替老王的少年人。
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.
他所治理的众人就是他的百姓，多得无数；在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空，也是捕风。
