| 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?
| |