讀經與譯經 - 2009年12月號


經文搶鮮讀





傳道書(五章10至20節)

財富無益

10愛錢財的人賺得再多,也嫌不夠。人以為財富能帶來真正的幸福,這真是空想!11你的財富越多,來使你花費的人也越多。這樣,財富有甚麽益處呢?你只能眼巴巴看着它從你手上溜走。 12辛勞工作的人,無論吃多吃少,都睡得香甜;富人卻難有一夜安眠。 13我看太陽底下還有一個嚴肅的問題,就是積攢財富的,反受財富所害。14人把錢放在風險高的投資上,一旦投資失敗,就一無所有。到頭來,沒剩下甚麼可以留給兒女。15我們怎樣赤裸裸的來到世上,在生命終結時也會怎樣離去,無法把財富帶走。 16這也是一個十分嚴肅的問題。人離開世界的時候,不會比他們來的時候好一點。他們的辛勞盡是一場空,如同捕風。17他們一生都活在陰霾下,盡是挫折、沮喪和氣惱。 18儘管如此,我還是發現一件美事,就是在上帝賜給人短暫的一生中,人又吃又喝,在太陽底下享受自己的工作,欣然接受自己生命中所得的那一份。19得到從上帝而來的財富,又有健康的身體去享用,是美好的事。享受你自己的工作,並欣然接受自己生命中所得的那一份,這實在是上帝所賜的禮物。20上帝使這樣的人忙於享受人生,以致他們無暇為着過去的事耿耿於懷。

The Futility of Wealth

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth — except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep. 13 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. 14 Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us. 16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing — like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud — frustrated, discouraged, and angry. 18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.