1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
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。
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2我讚歎那已死的人，勝過那還活著的人。
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
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。
4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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。
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
5愚昧人抱著手，吃自己的肉。
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
6一掌盛滿安寧，勝過兩手抓滿勞碌捕風。
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
7我又看到日光之下有一件虛空的事。
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
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。
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
9二人勝過一人，因為他們一起的勞碌有美好的酬報。
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
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。
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
11還有，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人獨睡，怎能暖和呢？
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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。
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
13貧窮但有智慧的年輕人，勝過年老不再納諫的愚昧王。
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
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。
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
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。
16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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。