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當歌頌敬拜美善的 神

感恩詩。

100 全地應當向耶和華歡呼。(本節在《馬索拉文本》包括細字標題)

應當歡歡喜喜事奉耶和華,

歡唱著到他的面前。

要知道耶和華是 神;

他創造了我們,我們是屬他的(“我們是屬他的”有古抄本作“不是我們自己”);

我們是他的子民,也是他草場上的羊。

應當充滿感恩進入他的殿門,

滿口讚美進入他的院子;

要感謝他,稱頌他的名。

因為耶和華本是美善的,

他的慈愛存到永遠,

他的信實直到萬代。

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Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy(A) to the Lord, all the earth.
    Worship the Lord(B) with gladness;
    come before him(C) with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.(D)
    It is he who made us,(E) and we are his[a];
    we are his people,(F) the sheep of his pasture.(G)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving(H)
    and his courts(I) with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.(J)
For the Lord is good(K) and his love endures forever;(L)
    his faithfulness(M) continues through all generations.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 100:3 Or and not we ourselves

100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

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智慧使人成功

10 幾隻死蒼蠅能使做香料者的膏油發霉變臭,一點點愚昧比智慧和榮譽的影響更大。 智慧人的心向右,愚昧人的心偏左。 愚昧人連走路的時候,也顯出無知;他對每一個人表現出他是個愚昧人(“他對每一個人表現出他是個愚昧人”或譯:“他稱每一個人都是愚昧的”)。 如果掌權者向你發怒,你不要離開原位,因為柔順能免大過。

在日光之下我看見一件憾事,好像是出於官長無意的錯誤, 就是愚昧人得居眾多高位,富有的人卻處卑位。 我見過奴僕騎馬,貴族卻像奴僕一樣在地上步行。

挖陷阱的,自己掉進去;拆牆垣的,有蛇來咬他。 採石的,被石打傷;劈柴的,被柴損害。 10 斧頭若鈍了,還不把斧刃磨快,就必多費力氣;智慧的好處在於助人成功。 11 未行法術先被蛇咬,那麼,法術對行法術的人就毫無用處。

12 智慧人的口,說出恩言;愚昧人的嘴,卻吞滅自己。 13 愚昧人的話開頭是愚昧,結尾是邪惡狂妄。 14 愚昧人多言多語。人不知道將來會有甚麼事,誰能告訴他死後會發生甚麼事呢? 15 愚昧人的勞碌徒使自己困乏,他連怎樣進城也不知道。

16 邦國啊,如果你的王是個孩童,而你的大臣又一早吃喝宴樂,你就有禍了。 17 邦國啊,如果你的王是貴冑之子,而你的大臣又按時吃喝,為要得力,不為醉酒,你就有福了。 18 房頂塌下是因為懶惰,房屋滴漏是因為懶得動手。 19 設宴是為歡笑,酒能使人生快活,金錢能解決萬事。 20 不要在意念中咒罵君王,也不要在臥房中咒罵財主,因為空中的飛鳥會傳聲,有翅膀的會述說這事。

世事難測宜忠心勤勞

11 要把你的糧食撒在水面上,因為日久你必得回。 你要分為七份,或分為八份,因為你不知道將來會有甚麼災禍在地上發生。 雲若充滿水氣,雨就傾倒在地上;樹無論向南倒,或向北倒,倒在哪裡,就橫在哪裡。 看風的,不撒種;觀雲的,不收割。 你不曉得風的路向,不知道骨頭如何在孕婦胎中形成,照樣,創造萬物之 神的作為,你也不得而知。 早晨要撒你的種,直到黃昏也不要歇手;因為你不知道哪一樣種得成,是早撒的,或晚撒的,或兩者都一樣好。

當趁壯年記念主

光是美好的,眼睛得見天日,也是好的。 人無論多長壽,都當樂在其中,不過他要想到黑暗的日子,因為這些日子將會很多;要來的,都是虛空的。

年輕人哪!你在幼年時要快樂,在壯年的日子,要使你的心歡暢;順著你心所願的,眼所見的去行。不過,你要知道,為了這一切事, 神必審問你。 10 所以你當除掉心中的煩惱,除去肉體的疾苦,因為無論是幼年或是壯年,都是虛空的。

12 在你壯年的日子,當記念你的創造主。不要等到衰敗的日子,就是你所說:“我毫無喜樂”的那些年日臨到, 日頭、光明、月亮、星宿變暗,雨後烏雲再現的時候。 那時,看守房子的發抖,強壯的彎腰,推磨的稀少,都停了工,往窗外看的都昏暗了, 當街的門口關閉,推磨的聲音微弱。雀鳥一叫,人就起來。唱歌的歌聲(“歌聲”原文作“女子”)都低微。 人怕高處,怕路上有驚嚇。杏樹開花,蚱蜢蹣跚而行,催情果失效。因為人歸他永遠的家,哭喪的在街上遊行。 銀鍊斷掉,金碗破裂,瓶子在泉旁破碎,打水的輪子在井邊破爛。 塵土要歸回原來之地,靈要歸回賜靈的 神。 傳道者說:“虛空的虛空,一切都是虛空。”

結論:敬畏 神,謹守誡命

傳道者不但有智慧,還將知識教訓眾人;他既揣摩,又查考,也編撰了許多箴言。 10 傳道者搜尋可喜悅的話,正確地寫下真理。

11 智慧人的言語像刺棒,他們所彙集的箴言像釘牢的釘子,都是一位牧者所賜的。 12 我兒,還有,你當受勸勉:著書多,沒有窮盡;讀書多,身體疲倦。

13 你們一切都聽見了,總而言之,應當敬畏 神,謹守他的誡命,因為這是每一個人的本分。 14 人所作的每一件事,連一切隱藏的事,無論是善是惡, 神都必審問。

10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly(A) outweighs wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of the fool to the left.
Even as fools walk along the road,
    they lack sense
    and show everyone(B) how stupid they are.
If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
    do not leave your post;(C)
    calmness can lay great offenses to rest.(D)

There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
    the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
Fools are put in many high positions,(E)
    while the rich occupy the low ones.
I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.(F)

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(G)
    whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(H)
Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
    whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(I)

10 If the ax is dull
    and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
    but skill will bring success.

11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
    the charmer receives no fee.(J)

12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(K)
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.(L)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness—
14     and fools multiply words.(M)

No one knows what is coming—
    who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(N)

15 The toil of fools wearies them;
    they do not know the way to town.

16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[a](O)
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time—
    for strength and not for drunkenness.(P)

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.(Q)

19 A feast is made for laughter,
    wine(R) makes life merry,
    and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not revile the king(S) even in your thoughts,
    or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
    and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Invest in Many Ventures

11 Ship(T) your grain across the sea;
    after many days you may receive a return.(U)
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
    you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

If clouds are full of water,
    they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,(V)
    or how the body is formed[b] in a mother’s womb,(W)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,(X)
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While Young

Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(Y)
However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(Z) the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.(AA)
10 So then, banish anxiety(AB) from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.(AC)

12 Remember(AD) your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(AE) come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
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;
when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;(AF)
when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(AG)
    and mourners(AH) go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns(AI) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(AJ) who gave it.(AK)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[c](AL)
    “Everything is meaningless!(AM)

The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(AN) 10 The Teacher(AO) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(AP)

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(AQ)—given by one shepherd.[d] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(AR)

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God(AS) and keep his commandments,(AT)
    for this is the duty of all mankind.(AU)
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,(AV)
    including every hidden thing,(AW)
    whether it is good or evil.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or king is a child
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed
  3. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
  4. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd

10 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

11 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

馬其頓聖徒樂捐的榜樣

弟兄們,我現在把 神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩典告訴你們: 他們在患難中受到極大的考驗的時候,他們滿溢的喜樂和極度的貧乏,匯流出豐厚的慷慨來。 我可以作證,他們是按著能力,並且是超過了能力,自願地 再三懇求我們,准許他們在供應聖徒的事上有分。 他們超過了我們所期望的,照著 神的旨意,先把自己獻給主,然後獻給我們。 因此,我們勉勵提多,既然開始了這慈善的事,就應當在你們那裡把這事辦好。 你們在一切事上,就如信心、口才、知識、熱情和愛我們的心,既然都是富足的,那麼,在這慈善的事上,也要顯出你們是富足的。

勸信徒完成慈善的事

我這樣說,不是吩咐你們,而是藉著別人的熱心來考驗你們的愛心是否真實。 你們是知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩典的:他本來富足,卻為你們成了貧窮,要使你們因他的貧窮成為富足。 10 我在這裡表示我的意見,這對你們是有益的:你們不僅一年前就在辦這事,而且早就想這樣作了, 11 現在就應當把這事辦好;這樣,你們既然有願意作的心,因著你們盡了自己所能的,就可以完成。 12 因為人要是有願意作的心,按照他所有的,必蒙悅納,不是按照他所沒有的。 13 這不是要別人輕省,你們受累,而是要大家都均等。 14 現在你們富裕,就要補助他們的缺乏,到了他們富裕的時候,也可以補助你們的缺乏,這樣就均等了; 15 正如經上所記:

“多的,沒有剩餘,

少的,也不缺乏。”

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The Collection for the Lord’s People

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(A) churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged(G) Titus,(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(I) this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(P)

10 And here is my judgment(Q) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(R) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(T) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(U) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b](V)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

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20 我不是曾經給你們寫下(“我不是曾經給你們寫下”或譯:“我不是給你們寫了三十條”)

有關謀略和知識的事嗎?

21 要教你認識確實的真理,

使你把真理回覆那差派你來的人。

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20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(A)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

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20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

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