Ecclesiastes 4

1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

1 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 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

2 因此，我认为那已死的人比活着的人幸福。

3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

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的恶行。

4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

5 愚人游手好闲，最后只能饿死。

6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

6 拥有不多，心里安宁，胜过拥有很多，仍劳碌捕风。

7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.

7 我又看见日光之下一件虚空的事：

8 There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

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 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

9 两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的成果。

10 For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

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 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

11 还有，二人同睡会暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？

12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

13 贫穷但有智慧的青年，胜过年老、愚昧、不再纳谏的君王。

14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

14 虽然这青年在本国出身贫寒，却能从囚犯成为君王。

15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.

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 There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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。