1Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold [I saw] the tears of the oppressed and [that] they had no one to comfort [them]; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort [them].
1我又轉念，見日光之下所行的一切欺壓。看哪，受欺壓的流淚，且無人安慰；欺壓他們的有勢力，也無人安慰他們。
2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.
2因此，我讚歎那早已死的死人，勝過那還活著的活人。
3But 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.
3並且我以為那未曾生的，就是未見過日光之下惡事的，比這兩等人更強。
4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is [the result of] rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
4我又見人為一切的勞碌和各樣靈巧的工作就被鄰舍嫉妒。這也是虛空，也是捕風。
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
5愚昧人抱著手，吃自己的肉。
6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
6滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。
7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
7我又轉念，見日光之下有一件虛空的事：
8There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches [and he never asked], 'And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?' This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.
8有人孤單無二，無子無兄，竟勞碌不息，眼目也不以錢財為足。他說：我勞勞碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福樂，到底是為誰呢？這也是虛空，是極重的勞苦。
9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
9兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
10For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
10若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。
11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm [alone]?
11再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three [strands] is not quickly torn apart.
12有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。
13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows [how] to receive instruction.
13貧窮而有智慧的少年人勝過年老不肯納諫的愚昧王。
14For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
14這人是從監牢中出來作王，在他國中，生來原是貧窮的。
15I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.
15我見日光之下一切行動的活人都隨從那第二位，就是起來代替老王的少年人。
16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind.
16他所治理的眾人就是他的百姓，多得無數；在他後來的人尚且不喜悅他。這真是虛空，也是捕風。