讀經與譯經 - 2010年02月號


經文搶鮮讀





傳道書(四章1至12節)


 


4我又觀察到太陽底下一切欺壓人的事,看見受壓者的眼淚,卻沒有人安慰他們。欺壓人的有極大的權勢,受害者卻全然無助。2因此我得出結論,死去的人比活着的還好。3然而最幸運的,是尚未出生的人,因為他們沒有見過太陽底下所行的一切惡事。


4我又觀察到,大多數人在追求成功,因為他們羨慕他人。但這也毫無意義,如同捕風。


5“愚昧人閒抱着手,
 就步向滅亡。”

6然而,
 “ 安詳寧靜地一手握滿,
 勝過兩手抓滿而勞碌捕風。”





友伴的好處

7我還觀察到太陽底下另一件毫無意義的事。8有人孤身一人,既無兒女,也無兄弟,卻勞碌不休,竭力獲取最大的財富。而後他問自己:“我辛勞工作是為誰呢?我為何放棄現在的享受呢?”這也是毫無意義,令人沮喪的。


9兩個人比一個人強,因為他們可以互相扶持。10如果一個跌倒,另一個可以伸手扶他一把;但孤身一人跌倒,就真的麻煩了。11同樣,兩個人同睡,彼此都暖和;但一人獨睡怎能暖和呢?12一個人站着,受到攻擊就被制伏;但兩個人背靠背的站在一起,就能克敵制勝;若是三個人就更好了,因為三股擰成的繩子不容易斷。
4Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. 2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.
4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

5 "Fools fold their idle hands,
 leading them to ruin." 

6And yet, "Better to have one handful with quietness
 than two handfuls with hard work
 and chasing the wind."


The Advantages of Companionship


7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. 
8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, "Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?" It is all so meaningless and depressing.

9Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 
10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 
11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 
12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.