1鬥爭勞碌都是虛空我又看見日光之下所發生一切欺壓的事：受欺壓的流淚，卻無人安慰他們；欺壓他們的，手裡握著權柄，因此無人安慰受欺壓的。
1Then 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.
2我讚歎那已死的人，勝過那還活著的人。
2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3那還沒生下來的，就是還沒看過日光之下所行的惡事的，比這兩種人更有福。
3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4我看見各樣的勞碌和各樣精巧的工作，都是出於人與人彼此的競爭。這也是虛空，也是捕風。
4Then 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.
5愚昧人抱著手，吃自己的肉。
5The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6一掌盛滿安寧，勝過兩手抓滿勞碌捕風。
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7我又看到日光之下有一件虛空的事。
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8有人孤單無依，沒有兒子，沒有兄弟，仍勞碌不休，眼目也不以自己的財富為足。他問：“我勞勞碌碌，刻薄自己不去享受，是為誰呢？”這也是虛空，是勞苦的擔子。
8There 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.
9二人勝過一人，因為他們一起的勞碌有美好的酬報。
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10如果一個跌倒，另一個可以把他的同伴扶起來。但一人孤身跌倒，沒有別人把他扶起來，他就悲慘了。
10For 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.
11還有，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人獨睡，怎能暖和呢？
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
12有人能制伏孤身一人，如果有二人就擋得住他。三股合成的繩子，不容易扯斷。
12If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13貧窮但有智慧的年輕人，勝過年老不再納諫的愚昧王。
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14雖然他是從監獄出來，在自己的國中，又是出身貧寒，卻起來作王。
14For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15我看見所有在日光之下行走的活人，都隨從那取代老王的年輕人。
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
16所有的人民，就是他所統治的人民，多得無數；然而後來的人卻不喜歡他。這實在也是虛空，也是捕風。
16There 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.