1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether [it will be] love or hatred; anything awaits him.
1我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為都在神手中；或是愛，或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。
2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.
2凡臨到眾人的事都是一樣：義人和惡人都遭遇一樣的事；好人，潔淨人和不潔淨人，獻祭的與不獻祭的，也是一樣。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。
3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they [go] to the dead.
3在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件禍患，就是眾人所遭遇的都是一樣，並且世人的心充滿了惡；活著的時候心裡狂妄，後來就歸死人那裡去了。
4For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.
4與一切活人相連的，那人還有指望，因為活著的狗比死了的獅子更強。
5For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.
5活著的人知道必死；死了的人毫無所知，也不再得賞賜；他們的名無人記念。
6Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
6他們的愛，他們的恨，他們的嫉妒，早都消滅了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有分了。
7Go [then], eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.
7你只管去歡歡喜喜吃你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為神已經悅納你的作為。
8Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
8你的衣服當時常潔白，你頭上也不要缺少膏油。
9Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
9在你一生虛空的年日，就是神賜你在日光之下虛空的年日，當同你所愛的妻，快活度日，因為那是你生前在日光之下勞碌的事上所得的分。
10Whatever your hand finds to do, do [it] with [all] your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
10凡你手所當做的事要盡力去做；因為在你所必去的陰間沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。
11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.
11我又轉念：見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎當時的機會。
12Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.
12原來人也不知道自己的定期。魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
13Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.
13我見日光之下有一樣智慧，據我看乃是廣大，
14There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.
14就是有一小城，其中的人數稀少，有大君王來攻擊，修築營壘，將城圍困。
15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
15城中有一個貧窮的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，卻沒有人記念那窮人。
16So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.
16我就說，智慧勝過勇力；然而那貧窮人的智慧被人藐視，他的話也無人聽從。
17The words of the wise heard in quietness are [better] than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
17寧可在安靜之中聽智慧人的言語，不聽掌管愚昧人的喊聲。
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
18智慧勝過打仗的兵器；但一個罪人能敗壞許多善事。