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傳道書 4-6
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
傳道書 4-6
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
4 於是，我又觀察日光之下的一切欺壓之事。我看見受欺壓的淚流滿面，無人安慰。因為欺壓者有權有勢，所以無人安慰他們。 2 我為那已死的人慶幸，因為他們比活著的人幸福。 3 不過，比以上兩種人更幸運的是那從未出生的人，他們從未見過日光之下各樣的惡行。 4 我又看見人的一切勞碌和成就原是出於爭強好勝。這也是虛空，如同捕風。 5 愚人遊手好閒，最後只能餓死。 6 擁有不多，心裡安寧，勝過擁有很多，仍勞碌捕風。 7 我又看見日光之下一件虛空的事： 8 有一個人孤孤單單，沒有兒子也沒有兄弟，卻終身勞碌。他雖然家道豐裕，仍不滿足，從未想過「我不停地勞碌，放棄一切享受，究竟是為了誰？」這也是虛空，是一種悲哀。 9 兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的成果。 10 一人跌倒，總有同伴相扶。但孤身一人、跌倒了無人相扶的真悲慘！ 11 還有，二人同睡會暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？ 12 遭遇攻擊，一人獨自不能抵擋，二人並肩就能對付。三股擰成的繩子不容易斷。 13 貧窮但有智慧的青年，勝過年老、愚昧、不再納諫的君王。 14 雖然這青年在本國出身貧寒，卻能從囚犯成為君王。 15 我看見所有日光之下的人都起來擁護這位代替老君王的青年。 16 擁護他的人不計其數，以後的世代卻對他不滿。這也是虛空，如同捕風。
敬畏上帝
5 你進入上帝的殿時要小心謹慎，近前傾聽勝過愚人獻祭，因為他們不知道自己是在作惡。 2 在上帝面前不要冒失開口，不可急於發言，因為祂在天上，你在地上。所以，你要少言寡語。 3 事務繁雜，夜裡多夢；多言多語，顯出愚昧。 4 你向上帝許願，不可遲遲不還，因為祂不喜歡這樣的愚人。要還所許的願。 5 與其許了願不還，倒不如不許。 6 不要在言語上犯罪，也不要在祭司[a]面前說許錯了願。為什麼用言語惹上帝發怒，以致祂摧毀你手中的工作呢？ 7 多夢多言都是虛空。你只要敬畏上帝！
財富虛空
8 若你在某地看見窮人受欺壓，公平正義被扭曲，不要震驚，因為官上有官，在眾官之上還有更高的官。 9 況且，地的出產滋養萬物，就是君王也需要從田地得到供應。 10 貪愛錢財的，金銀不能使他滿足；貪圖富裕的，再多的利益也不能叫他稱心。這也是虛空！ 11 財富增加，消費的人也增加，這對財富的主人有什麼益處呢？只是過眼雲煙罷了！ 12 勞力的人不管吃多吃少，總是睡得香甜；富人的萬貫家財卻害得他不能成眠。 13 我看到日光之下有一件可悲的事：有人積攢財寶，反而害了自己。 14 經營不善，便財富盡失，什麼也不能留給兒子。 15 人怎樣從母腹空空而來，也必照樣空空而去；勞碌一生，什麼也不能帶走。 16 這是多麼可悲啊！人怎樣來，也要怎樣去，為風勞碌有什麼益處呢？ 17 他一生活在黑暗中，飽受煩惱、病痛和憤怒的困擾。 18 我認為人生最美最善的是，在上帝所賜的短暫歲月中盡情吃喝，享受自己在日光之下勞苦得來的成果。因為這是人當得的。 19 上帝不單給人財富，也叫他能吃能喝，享用自己所當得的，並在勞碌中得到快樂，這都是上帝的恩賜。 20 他不用擔憂自己壽命的長短，因為上帝使他心裡充滿喜樂。
6 我看見日光之下有一件可悲的事，重重地壓在人身上： 2 上帝賜給人財富和尊榮，叫他擁有所渴望的一切，卻使他無法享用，倒讓別人享用。這是虛空，是極大的悲哀。 3 人若有一百個兒子，並且長壽，但心中卻從未得到滿足，死後又不得安葬。唉！這樣的人還不如流產的胎兒。 4 這胎兒在虛空中來，在黑暗中去，名字隱沒在黑暗中， 5 沒有見過天日，一無所知，然而這胎兒比那人更享安息。 6 就算那人活了千年，又活千年，卻不能享受福樂，又如何呢？世人最終豈不都同歸一處嗎？ 7 人人為口腹勞碌，卻永不滿足。 8 那麼，智者比愚人有什麼優勢呢？貧窮人即使懂得如何處世，又有什麼益處呢？ 9 滿足於眼前所有的，勝過心中貪想的。這也是虛空，如同捕風。 10 一切存在的事物都已有了名字，人的本質也被識透了；人無法與比他更強的較量。 11 其實話越多，越虛空，這對人又有什麼益處？ 12 人生短暫虛空，如影飛逝，有誰知道什麼對人有益？誰能告訴人死後日光之下會發生什麼事？
Footnotes
- 5·6 「祭司」希伯來文是「使者」。
Ecclesiastes 4-6
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4-6
New International Version
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.(B)
2 And I declared that the dead,(C)
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.(D)
3 But better than both
is the one who has never been born,(E)
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.(F)
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(G)
5 Fools fold their hands(H)
and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil(I)
and chasing after the wind.
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Advancement Is Meaningless
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Fulfill Your Vow to God
5 [a]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 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.(K)
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.(L)
3 A dream(M) comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.(N)
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.(O) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.(P) 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.(Q) 6 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 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(R)
Riches Are Meaningless
8 If you see the poor oppressed(S) 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 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.(T)
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:(U)
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.(V)
They take nothing from their toil(W)
that they can carry in their hands.(X)
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?(Y)
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink(Z) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor(AA) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,(AB) and the ability to enjoy them,(AC) to accept their lot(AD) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.(AE) 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.(AF)
6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,(AG) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(AH)
3 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(AI) child is better off than he.(AJ) 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?(AK)
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.(AL)
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?(AM)
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.(AN)
10 Whatever exists has already been named,(AO)
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(AP) they pass through like a shadow?(AQ) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.