傳道書 6
1
我見日光之下有一宗禍患、重壓在人身上.

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men:

2
就是人蒙 神賜他貲財、豐富、尊榮、以致他心裡所願的一樣都不缺、只是 神使他不能喫用、反有外人來喫用.這是虛空、也是禍患。

God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

3
人若生一百個兒子、活許多歲數、以致他的年日甚多、心裡卻不得滿享福樂、又不得埋葬.據我說、那不到期而落的胎比他倒好.

A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

4
因為虛虛而來、暗暗而去、名字被黑暗遮蔽.

It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

5
並且沒有見過天日、也毫無知覺.這胎、比那人倒享安息。

Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man--

6
那人雖然活千年、再活千年、卻不享福、眾人豈不都歸一個地方去麼。

even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

7
人的勞碌都為口腹、心裡卻不知足。

All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

8
這樣看來、智慧人比愚昧人有甚麼長處呢.窮人在眾人面前知道如何行、有甚麼長處呢。

What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others?

9
眼睛所看的、比心裡妄想的倒好.這也是虛空、也是捕風。

Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

10
先前所有的、早已起了名.並知道何為人.他也不能與那比自己力大的相爭。

Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he.

11
加增虛浮的事既多、這與人有甚麼益處呢。

The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

12
人一生虛度的日子、就如影兒經過.誰知道甚麼與他有益呢.誰能告訴他身後在日光之下有甚麼事呢。

For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?