Ecclesiastes 9

1 So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

1 我仔细思想、探究这一切事，就知道义人、智者及他们的行事为人都由上帝掌管，人无法知道前面等待自己的是爱还是恨。

2 It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

2 义人和恶人、好人和坏人、洁净的和污秽的、献祭的和不献祭的、行善的和犯罪的、敢于起誓的和不敢起誓的人，命运都一样。

3 This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

3 在日光之下有一件可悲的事，就是人的命运都一样。况且，人内心都充满邪恶，活着的时候行事狂妄，之后都步入死亡。

4 There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

4 有生命就有希望，一条活狗总比一头死狮子强。

5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

5 因为活着的人还知道自己终有一死，但死了的人什么都不知道，再也得不到任何赏赐，他们被忘得一干二净。

6 Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

6 他们的爱、恨和嫉妒早已不复存在，他们再也无法参与日光之下的任何事。

7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

7 去欢欢喜喜、快快乐乐地吃喝吧！因为上帝已经悦纳你所做的。

8 Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.

8 你的衣服要经常保持洁白，头上也不要缺少膏油。

9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

9 在你虚空的人生中，就是在上帝所赐、日光之下虚空的岁月里，你要与爱妻快乐度日，因为这是你一生在日光之下的劳碌中所当得的。

10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

10 凡你的手能做的，都要尽力去做，因为在你要去的阴间没有工作，没有计划，也没有知识和智慧。

11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

11 我又发现，日光之下，跑得快的未必能得奖，强大的未必能得胜，智者未必得温饱，聪明人未必得财富，博学者未必受爱戴，因为时机和境遇左右众人。

12 For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

12 再者，人无法知道何时大难临头。祸患突然临到时，人根本无法摆脱，就像鱼落入险恶的网中，又像鸟儿陷入网罗。

13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

13 我看见日光之下有一种智慧，对我来说意义深远。

14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

14 有一个势力强大的君王来攻击一个人口不多的小城，他建造营垒围困这城。

15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

15 这城里有一个贫穷的智者，他用智慧拯救了这城，事后却无人记念他。

16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

16 我认为智慧胜过武力，然而那位穷人的智慧却被轻视，他所说的话也无人理会。

17 The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.

17 听智者的细语，胜过听官长在愚人中的喊叫。

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

18 智慧胜过兵器，但一个罪人却能破坏许多善事。