| 1 | 你趁著年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到、就是你所說、我毫無喜樂的那些年日未曾臨近之先、當記念造你的主.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-- | |
| 2 | 不要等到日頭、光明、月亮、星宿、變為黑暗、雨後雲彩反回、
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; | |
| 3 | 看守房屋的發顫、有力的屈身、推磨的稀少就止息、從窗戶往外看的都昏暗、
when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; | |
| 4 | 街門關閉、推磨的響聲微小、雀鳥一叫、人就起來、歌唱的女子、也都衰微、
when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; | |
| 5 | 人怕高處、路上有驚慌、杏樹開花、蚱蜢成為重擔、人所願的也都廢掉、因為人歸他永遠的家、弔喪的在街上往來、
when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. | |
| 6 | 銀鍊折斷、金罐破裂、瓶子在泉旁損壞、水輪在井口破爛、
Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, | |
| 7 | 塵土仍歸於地、靈仍歸於賜靈的 神。
and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. | |
| 8 | 傳道者說、虛空的虛空、凡事都是虛空。
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" | |
| 9 | 再者、傳道者因有智慧、仍將知識教訓眾人.又默想、又考查、又陳說許多箴言。
Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. | |
| 10 | 傳道者專心尋求可喜悅的言語、是憑正直寫的誠實話。
The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. | |
| 11 | 智慧人的言語、好像刺棍.會中之師的言語、又像釘穩的釘子.都是一個牧者所賜的。
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. | |
| 12 | 我兒、還有一層、你當受勸戒.著書多、沒有窮盡.讀書多、身體疲倦。
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. | |
| 13 | 這些事都已聽見了.總意就是敬畏 神、謹守他的誡命、這是人所當盡的本分。〔或作這是眾人的本分〕
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. | |
| 14 | 因為人所作的事、連一切隱藏的事、無論是善是惡、 神都必審問。
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. | |