Ecclesiastes 9
1 I tretide alle these thingis in myn herte, to vndirstonde diligentli. Iust men, and wise men ben, and her werkis ben in the hond of God; and netheles a man noot, whether he is worthi of loue or of hatrede.
我将这一切事放在心上，详细考究，就知道义人和智慧人，并他们的作为都在 神手中；或是爱，或是恨，都在他们的前面，人不能知道。
2 But alle thingis ben kept vncerteyn in to tyme to comynge; for alle thingis bifallen euenli to a iust man and to a wickid man, to a good man and to an yuel man, to a cleene man and to an vnclene man, to a man offrynge offryngis and sacrifices, and to a man dispisynge sacrifices; as a good man, so and a synnere; as a forsworun man, so and he that greetli swerith treuthe.
凡临到众人的事都是一样：义人和恶人都遭遇一样的事；好人，洁净人和不洁净人，献祭的与不献祭的，也是一样。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。
3 This thing is the worste among alle thingis, that ben don vndur the sunne, that the same thingis bifallen to alle men; wherfor and the hertis of the sones of men ben fillid with malice and dispisyng in her lijf; and aftir these thingis thei schulen be led doun to hellis.
在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件祸患，就是众人所遭遇的都是一样，并且世人的心充满了恶；活着的时候心里狂妄，后来就归死人那里去了。
4 No man is, that lyueth euere, and that hath trist of this thing; betere is a quik dogge than a deed lioun.
与一切活人相连的，那人还有指望，因为活着的狗比死了的狮子更强。
5 For thei that lyuen witen that thei schulen die; but deed men knowen no thing more, nether han meede ferthere; for her mynde is youun to foryetyng.
活着的人知道必死；死了的人毫无所知，也不再得赏赐；他们的名无人记念。
6 Also the loue, and hatrede, and enuye perischiden togidere; and thei han no part in this world, and in the werk that is don vndur the sunne.
他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，早都消灭了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有分了。
7 Therfor go thou, iust man, and ete thi breed in gladnesse, and drynke thi wiyn with ioie; for thi werkis plesen God.
你只管去欢欢喜喜吃你的饭，心中快乐喝你的酒，因为 神已经悦纳你的作为。
8 In ech tyme thi clothis be white, and oile faile not fro thin heed.
你的衣服当时常洁白，你头上也不要缺少膏油。
9 Vse thou lijf with the wijf which thou louest, in alle the daies of lijf of thin vnstablenesse, that ben youun to thee vndur sunne, in al the tyme of thi vanyte; for this is thi part in thi lijf and trauel, bi which thou trauelist vndur the sunne.
在你一生虚空的年日，就是 神赐你在日光之下虚空的年日，当同你所爱的妻，快活度日，因为那是你生前在日光之下劳碌的事上所得的分。
10 Worche thou bisili, what euer thing thin hond mai do; for nether werk, nether resoun, nethir kunnyng, nether wisdom schulen be at hellis, whidir thou haastist. (Sheol h7585)
凡你手所当做的事要尽力去做；因为在你所必去的阴间没有工作，没有谋算，没有知识，也没有智慧。 (Sheol h7585)
11 I turnede me to another thing, and Y siy vndur sunne, that rennyng is not of swift men, nethir batel is of stronge men, nether breed is of wise men, nether richessis ben of techeris, ne grace is of crafti men; but tyme and hap is in alle thingis.
我又转念：见日光之下，快跑的未必能赢；力战的未必得胜；智慧的未必得粮食；明哲的未必得资财；灵巧的未必得喜悦。所临到众人的是在乎当时的机会。
12 A man knowith not his ende; but as fischis ben takun with an hook, and as briddis ben takun with a snare, so men ben takun in yuel tyme, whanne it cometh sudeynli on hem.
原来人也不知道自己的定期。鱼被恶网圈住，鸟被网罗捉住，祸患忽然临到的时候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
13 Also Y siy this wisdom vndur the sunne, and Y preuede it the mooste.
我见日光之下有一样智慧，据我看乃是广大，
14 A litil citee, and a fewe men ther ynne; a greet kyng cam ayens it, and cumpasside it with palis, and he bildide strengthis bi cumpas; and bisegyng was maad perfit.
就是有一小城，其中的人数稀少，有大君王来攻击，修筑营垒，将城围困。
15 And a pore man and a wijs was foundun ther ynne; and he delyuerede the citee bi his wisdom, and no man bithouyte aftirward on that pore man.
城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。
16 And Y seide, that wisdom is betere than strengthe; hou therfor is the wisdom of a pore man dispisid, and hise wordis ben not herd?
我就说，智慧胜过勇力；然而那贫穷人的智慧被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。
17 The wordis of wise men ben herd in silence, more than the cry of a prince among foolis.
宁可在安静之中听智慧人的言语，不听掌管愚昧人的喊声。
18 Betere is wisdom than armuris of batel; and he that synneth in o thing, schal leese many goodis.
智慧胜过打仗的兵器；但一个罪人能败坏许多善事。
