1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.7.3 Sorrow: or, Anger 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.7.6 crackling: Heb. sound
7¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.7.10 wisely: Heb. out of wisdom
11¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.7.11 good…: or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too 12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.7.12 defence: Heb. shadow 13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.7.14 set: Heb. made 15All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?7.16 destroy…: Heb. be desolate? 17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?7.17 before…: Heb. not in thy time? 18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:7.21 take…: Heb. give not thine heart 22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:7.25 I applied…: Heb. I and mine heart compassed 26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.7.26 whoso…: Heb. he that is good before God 27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:7.27 counting…: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason 28Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
1美好的名聲勝過珍貴的膏油，
人死之日勝過出生之時。
2探望喪家勝過參加宴席，
因為死亡是每個人的結局，
活著的人要把這事銘記在心。
3哀傷勝過歡笑，
因為哀傷磨煉人的心靈。
4智者的心思考生死大事，
愚人的心只顧作樂。
5聽智者的責備，
勝過聽愚人的頌歌。
6愚人的笑聲像鍋底下燒荊棘的噼啪聲。
這也是虛空。
7欺壓使智者變愚昧，
賄賂敗壞人心。
8事情的結局勝過事情的開端；
恆久忍耐勝過心驕氣傲。
9不要輕易發怒，
因為愚人心懷怒氣。
10不要問為什麼過去比現在好，
因為這樣問不明智。
11智慧如同產業一樣美好，
有益於得見日光的世人。
12智慧如同金錢，
是一種保障，
能保全智者的生命。
這就是知識的好處。
13你應當思想上帝的作為，
因為上帝弄彎的，
誰能使它變直呢？
14順境時要快樂，
逆境時要思想：
兩者都是上帝的安排，
好叫人不能預知將來。
15在我虛空的一生中，我見過義人行義，反而滅亡；惡人行惡，卻享長壽。 16為人不要過分正直，也不要過於聰明，何必自取毀滅呢？ 17不要過分邪惡，也不要做愚人，何必時候未到就死呢？ 18最好是持守這個教訓也不放鬆那個教訓，因為敬畏上帝的人必避免兩個極端。 19智慧使一個智者比城裡十個官長更有能力。 20誠然，在地上無法找到一個一生行善、從未犯罪的義人。 21你不要斤斤計較別人所說的每一句話，免得聽見你的僕人咒詛你， 22因為你心裡知道自己也曾多次咒詛別人。 23我用智慧試驗過這一切。我說：「我要做智者」，誰知智慧卻離我甚遠。 24智慧如此遙不可及、深不可測，誰能找得到呢？ 25我用心去認識、探究、追尋智慧和事物的原委，並去認識邪惡帶來的愚昧和無知帶來的狂妄。 26我發現有的婦人比死亡更苦毒，她是個陷阱，心如網羅，手像鎖鏈。敬畏上帝的人避開她，罪人卻被她俘虜。 27-28傳道者說：「看啊，我事事反復探索，要查明萬事之理，卻沒有尋獲。但我發現在一千個男子中還可以找到一位正直人，在眾女子中卻未找到一位。 29我只發現一件事，上帝造的人本來正直，人卻找出各種詭計。」
