传道书 5
1
你到神的殿,要谨慎脚步。因为近前听,胜过愚昧人献祭,(或作胜过献愚昧人的祭)他们本不知道所作的是恶。

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

2
你在神面前不可冒失开口,也不可心急发言。因为神在天上,你在地下,所以你的言语要寡少。

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

3
事务多,就令人作梦,言语多,就显出愚昧。

As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

4
你向神许愿,偿还不可迟延。因他不喜悦愚昧人。所以你许的愿应当偿还。

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

5
你许愿不还,不如不许。

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

6
不可任你的口使肉体犯罪。也不可在祭司(原文作使者)面前说是错许了。为何使神因你的声音发怒,败坏你手所作的呢?

Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

7
多梦和多言,其中多有虚幻。你只要敬畏神。

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

8
你若在一省之中见穷人受欺压,并夺去公义公平的事,不要因此诧异。因有一位高过居高位的鉴察。在他们以上还有更高的。

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

9
况且地的益处归众人。就是君王也受田地的供应。

The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10
贪爱银子的,不因得银子知足。贪爱丰富的,也不因得利益知足。这也是虚空。

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

11
货物增添,吃的人也增添。物主得什么益处呢?不过眼看而已。

As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

12
劳碌的人,不拘吃多吃少,睡得香甜。富足人的丰满,却不容他睡觉。

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

13
我见日光之下,有一宗大祸患,就是财主积存赀财,反害自己。

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

14
因遭遇祸患,这些赀财就消灭。那人若生了儿子,手里也一无所有。

or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.

15
他怎样从母胎赤身而来,也必照样赤身而去。他所劳碌得来的。手中分毫不能带去。

Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.

16
他来的情形怎样,他去的情形也怎样。这也是一宗大祸患。他为风劳碌有什么益处呢?

This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?

17
并且他终身在黑暗中吃喝,多有烦恼,又有病患呕气。

All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

18
我所见为善为美的,就是人在神赐他一生的日子吃喝,享受日光之下劳碌得来的好处。因为这是他的分。

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot.

19
神赐人赀财丰富,使他能以吃用,能取自己的分,在他劳碌中喜乐。这乃是神的恩赐。

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.

20
他不多思念自己一生的年日。因为神应他的心使他喜乐。

He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.