Ecclesiastes

1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因此，我赞叹那早已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。

3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愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。

6满了一把，得享安静，强如满了两把，劳碌捕风。

7我又转念，见日光之下有一件虚空的事：

8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。

9两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。

10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再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？

12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贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。

14这人是从监牢中出来作王，在他国中，生来原是贫穷的。

15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。

1Then I returned and saw 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.

2Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

3yea, better than them both did I esteem him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.

7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

12And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

14For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.

16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.