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.
我又轉念，見日光之下所行的一切欺壓。看哪，受欺壓的流淚，且無人安慰；欺壓他們的有勢力，也無人安慰他們。
2 Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活着的活人。
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.
並且我以為那未曾生的，就是未見過日光之下惡事的，比這兩等人更強。
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.
我又見人為一切的勞碌和各樣靈巧的工作就被鄰舍嫉妒。這也是虛空，也是捕風。
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.
滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：
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.
有人孤單無二，無子無兄，竟勞碌不息，眼目也不以錢財為足。他說：「我勞勞碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福樂，到底是為誰呢？」這也是虛空，是極重的勞苦。
9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
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，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。
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，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
12 And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.
有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。
13 Better [is] a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
貧窮而有智慧的少年人勝過年老不肯納諫的愚昧王。
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。
15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
我見日光之下一切行動的活人都隨從那第二位，就是起來代替老王的少年人。
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.
他所治理的眾人就是他的百姓，多得無數；在他後來的人尚且不喜悅他。這真是虛空，也是捕風。
