1我心裡想：「來吧，不如盡情享樂，好好享受！」唉！結果這也是虛空。 2我說：「歡笑只不過是一陣狂妄，享樂又有什麼用！」 3於是，我決意用酒使自己快樂，在體驗愚昧的同時仍然保持理智，直到我明白在短暫的人生歲月中做何事才有益。 4我大動工程，為自己建造房屋，栽種葡萄園， 5開墾花圃園囿，種植各種果樹， 6開鑿池塘，澆灌茂林。 7我買了僕婢，又有生在家中的僕婢，擁有的牛羊遠超過有史以來耶路撒冷的任何人。 8我為自己積聚金銀，搜羅列王和各省的奇珍異寶，得到男女歌優及許多妃嬪——都是世人所想望的。 9這樣，我便財勢日增，享譽盛名，超過耶路撒冷歷來所有的人。然而，我仍然保持智慧。 10凡我眼睛愛看的、心裡渴慕的，我都隨心所欲，盡情享受。我的心從勞碌中得到歡樂，這是我勞碌所得的回報。 11然而，當我回顧雙手辛勤經營的一切成就時，唉，卻發現都是虛空，都是捕風；日光之下的一切都毫無益處。 12於是，我轉念思考什麼是智慧、狂妄和愚昧。其實以後接替君王的人除了重演歷史之外，還能做什麼呢？ 13我領悟到智慧勝過愚昧，如同光明勝過黑暗。 14智者高瞻遠矚，愚人卻在黑暗中摸索。但我知道兩者終必有同樣的命運。 15於是，我想：「既然愚人的命運也將是我的命運，我有智慧又怎麼樣呢？我只能說，『這也是虛空。』」 16因為智者和愚人一樣，不過被人記得一時，日後都會被遺忘。兩者都難逃死亡。 17所以，我憎惡生命，因為在日光之下所做的一切都令我愁煩。唉！這一切都是虛空，都是捕風。 18我憎惡自己在日光之下勞碌得來的一切，因為這些必留給後人。 19誰知道那人是智者還是愚人呢？然而，他卻要接管我在日光之下用智慧辛勤經營的產業。這也是虛空。 20因此，我對自己在日光之下一切的勞碌感到絕望。 21一個人用智慧、知識和技能所得來的一切，卻要留給不勞而獲的人享用，這也是虛空，是極大的不幸！ 22世人在日光之下勞心勞力，究竟得到什麼呢？ 23他們一生充滿痛苦，勞碌中盡是愁煩，即使夜間心裡也不安寧。這也是虛空。 24對人而言，沒有什麼比吃喝並享受勞碌之樂更好，我看這也是出自上帝的手。 25離了上帝，誰還能吃喝享受呢？ 26上帝把智慧、知識和喜樂賜給祂喜悅的人，卻讓罪人忙於積攢財富，然後把他們的財富賜給祂喜悅的人。這也是虛空，也是捕風。
1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.2.3 to give…: Heb. to draw my flesh with wine2.3 all…: Heb. the number of the days of their life 4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:2.7 servants born…: Heb. sons of my house 8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.2.8 musical…: Heb. musical instrument and instruments 9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.2.12 even…: or, in those things which have been already done 13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.2.13 that…: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc 14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.2.15 happeneth even…: Heb. happeneth to me, even to me 16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.2.18 taken: Heb. laboured 19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.2.21 leave: Heb. give 22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
24¶ There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.2.24 should make…: or, delight his senses 25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.2.26 in his…: Heb. before him
