Ecclesiastes 4

我又转念，见日光之下所行的一切欺压。看哪，受欺压的流泪，且无人安慰；欺压他们的有势力，也无人安慰他们。

wǒ yòu zhuǎn niàn ， jiàn rì guāng zhī xià suǒ xíng de yí qiè qī yā 。 kàn nǎ ， shòu qī yā de liú lèi ， qiě wú rén ān wèi ； qī yā tā men de yǒu shì lì ， yě wú rén ān wèi tā men 。

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

因此，我赞叹那早已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。

yīn cǐ ， wǒ zàn tàn nà zǎo yǐ sǐ de sǐ rén ， shèng guò nà hái huó zhe de huó rén 。

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

并且我以为那未曾生的，就是未见过日光之下恶事的，比这两等人更强。

bìng qiě wǒ yǐ wéi nà wèi céng shēng de ， jiù shì wèi jiàn guò rì guāng zhī xià è shì de ， bǐ zhè liǎng děng rén gèng qiáng 。

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

我又见人为一切的劳碌和各样灵巧的工作就被邻舍嫉妒。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

wǒ yòu jiàn rén wéi yí qiè de láo lù hé gè yàng líng qiǎo de gōng zuò jiù bèi lín shè jí dù 。 zhè yě shì xū kōng ， yě shì bǔ fēng 。

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。

yú mèi rén bào zhuó shǒu ， chī zì jǐ de ròu 。

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

满了一把，得享安静，强如满了两把，劳碌捕风。

mǎn le yì bǎ ， dé xiǎng ān jìng ， qiáng rú mǎn le liǎng bǎ ， láo lù bǔ fēng 。

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

我又转念，见日光之下有一件虚空的事：

wǒ yòu zhuǎn niàn ， jiàn rì guāng zhī xià yǒu yí jiàn xū kōng de shì ：

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

有人孤单无二，无子无兄，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以钱财为足。他说：「我劳劳碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福乐，到底是为谁呢？」这也是虚空，是极重的劳苦。

yǒu rén gū dān wú èr ， wú zǐ wú xiōng ， jìng láo lù bù xī ， yǎn mù yě bù yǐ qián cái wèi zú 。 tā shuō ：「 wǒ láo láo lù lù ， kè kǔ zì jǐ ， bù xiǎng fú lè ， dào dǐ shì wèi shuí ne ？」 zhè yě shì xū kōng ， shì jí zhòng de láo kǔ 。

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。

liǎng gè rén zǒng bǐ yí gè rén hǎo ， yīn wèi èr rén láo lù tóng dé měi hǎo de guǒ xiào 。

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

若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了。

ruò shì diē dǎo ， zhè rén kě yǐ fú qǐ tā de tóng bàn ； ruò shì gū shēn diē dǎo ， méi yǒu bié rén fú qǐ tā lái ， zhè rén jiù yǒu huò le 。

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？

zài zhě ， èr rén tóng shuì jiù dōu nuǎn huo ， yì rén dú shuì zěn néng nuǎn huo ne ？

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。

yǒu rén gōng shèng gū shēn yì rén ， ruò yǒu èr rén biàn néng dí dǎng tā ； sān gǔ hé chéng de shéng zi bù róng yì zhé duàn 。

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

贫穷而有智慧的少年人胜过年老不肯纳谏的愚昧王。

pín qióng ér yǒu zhì huì de shào nián rén shèng guò nián lǎo bù kěn nà jiàn de yú mèi wáng 。

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

这人是从监牢中出来作王，在他国中，生来原是贫穷的。

zhè rén shì cóng jiān láo zhōng chū lái zuò wáng ， zài tā guó zhōng ， shēng lái yuán shì pín qióng de 。

For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

我见日光之下一切行动的活人都随从那第二位，就是起来代替老王的少年人。

wǒ jiàn rì guāng zhī xià yí qiè xíng dòng de huó rén dōu suí cóng nà dì èr wèi ， jiù shì qǐ lái dài tì lǎo wáng de shào nián rén 。

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

他所治理的众人就是他的百姓，多得无数；在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空，也是捕风。

tā suǒ zhì lǐ de zhòng rén jiù shì tā de bǎi xìng ， duō dé wú shù ； zài tā hòu lái de rén shàng qiě bù xǐ yuè tā 。 zhè zhēn shì xū kōng ， yě shì bǔ fēng 。

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.