传道书 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
4 于是,我又观察日光之下的一切欺压之事。我看见受欺压的泪流满面,无人安慰。因为欺压者有权有势,所以无人安慰他们。 2 我为那已死的人庆幸,因为他们比活着的人幸福。 3 不过,比以上两种人更幸运的是那从未出生的人,他们从未见过日光之下各样的恶行。 4 我又看见人的一切劳碌和成就原是出于争强好胜。这也是虚空,如同捕风。 5 愚人游手好闲,最后只能饿死。 6 拥有不多,心里安宁,胜过拥有很多,仍劳碌捕风。 7 我又看见日光之下一件虚空的事: 8 有一个人孤孤单单,没有儿子也没有兄弟,却终身劳碌。他虽然家道丰裕,仍不满足,从未想过“我不停地劳碌,放弃一切享受,究竟是为了谁?”这也是虚空,是一种悲哀。 9 两个人总比一个人好,因为二人劳碌同得美好的成果。 10 一人跌倒,总有同伴相扶。但孤身一人、跌倒了无人相扶的真悲惨! 11 还有,二人同睡会暖和,一人独睡怎能暖和呢? 12 遭遇攻击,一人独自不能抵挡,二人并肩就能对付。三股拧成的绳子不容易断。 13 贫穷但有智慧的青年,胜过年老、愚昧、不再纳谏的君王。 14 虽然这青年在本国出身贫寒,却能从囚犯成为君王。 15 我看见所有日光之下的人都起来拥护这位代替老君王的青年。 16 拥护他的人不计其数,以后的世代却对他不满。这也是虚空,如同捕风。
Ecclesiastes 4
New American Standard Bible
The Evils of Oppression
4 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So (C)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3 But (D)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is (F)futility and striving after wind. 5 The fool (G)folds his hands and (H)consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is (I)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at futility under the sun. 8 There was a man without a [a]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And (K)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an (L)unhappy task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10 for if [b]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [c]another to lift him up! 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [d]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [e]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13 A (N)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [f]instruction— 14 for he has come (O)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who [g]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is (P)futility and striving after wind.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit second
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit a second
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or warning
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit stands in his place
Ecclesiastes 4
Legacy Standard Bible
The Tears of the Oppressed
4 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So (C)I lauded the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 3 But (D)better off than both of them is the one who never has been, who has never seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)success of the work is the result of jealousy between a man and his neighbor. This too is [a](F)vanity and striving after wind. 5 The fool (G)folds his hands in embrace and (H)consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is (I)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a second man, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches—“And (K)for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of good?” This too is vanity, and it is a (L)grievous endeavor.
9 Two are better than one because they have good wages for their labor. 10 For if [b]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not a second one to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [c]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [d]one can overpower him who is alone, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13 A (N)poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [e]warning. 14 For he has come (O)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all the living who walk about under the sun go along with the second lad who stands in place of him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be glad with him, for this too is (P)vanity and striving after wind.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 Or futility, so in ch
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or instruction
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