然而我说，后嗣几时还是孩童，他虽是全业的主人，却与奴仆毫无分别，
But I say, As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, though he is lord of all;

乃是在监护人和管家的手下，直到父亲所预定的时候。
But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

我们也是这样，为孩童的时候，受奴役于世上的蒙学之下；
So also we, when we were children, were kept in slavery under the elements of the world;

及至时候满足，神就差出祂的儿子，由女子所生，且生在律法以下，
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law,

要把律法以下的人赎出来，好叫我们得着儿子的名分。
That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship.

而且因你们是儿子，神就差出祂儿子的灵，进入我们的心，呼叫：阿爸，父！
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!

这样，你不再是奴仆，乃是儿子了；既是儿子，也就借着神为后嗣。
So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

但从前你们不认识神的时候，是给那些本性上不是神的作奴仆。
However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to the gods which by nature are not gods;

现在你们既然认识神，更可说是神所认识的，怎么还要转向那软弱乏用的蒙学，情愿重新再给它们作奴仆？
But now, having come to know God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and poor elements, to which you desire to be enslaved yet again?

你们谨守日子、月分、节期、年分；
You observe days and months and seasons and years;

我为你们害怕，惟恐我在你们身上是徒然劳苦。
I fear for you, lest I have labored upon you in vain.

弟兄们，我求你们要像我一样，因为我也像你们一样；你们一点没有亏负我。
Become as I am, because I also am as you are, brothers, I beseech you; you have not wronged me at all.

你们知道我初次传福音给你们，是因为肉身有疾病。
And you know that because of weakness of my flesh I announced the gospel to you the first time.

那在我肉身上成为你们试炼的，你们并没有轻看，也没有厌弃；反倒接待我，如同神的使者，如同基督耶稣。
And that which was a trial to you in my flesh you did not despise nor loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, indeed as Christ Jesus.

这样，你们当日所庆幸的福气在哪里？我能给你们作见证，若是可能，那时你们已把自己的眼睛剜出来给我了。
Where then is your felicitation? For I testify concerning you that if possible you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

现在我将真理告诉你们，就成了你们的仇敌么？
So then have I become your enemy by presenting the truth to you?

那些人热心待你们，不是好意，乃是要离间你们，叫你们热心待他们。
They are zealous of you, but not rightly; but they desire to shut you out that you may be zealous of them.

在善事上，常常热心待人，原是好的，却不单我与你们同在的时候才这样。
But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

我的孩子们，我为你们再受生产之苦，直等到基督成形在你们里面。
My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you,

我巴不得现在与你们同在，改变我的口气，因我为你们心里作难。
Indeed, I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone because I am perplexed about you.

你们这愿意在律法以下的，请告诉我，你们岂没有听过律法么？
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

因为律法上记着，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是出于使女，一个是出于自主的妇人。
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one of the maidservant and one of the free woman.

然而那出于使女的，是按着肉体生的；那出于自主妇人的，是借着应许生的。
However the one of the maidservant was born according to the flesh, but the one of the free woman was born through promise.

这些都是寓意：两个妇人就是两约，一个是出于西乃山，生子为奴，乃是夏甲。
These things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto slavery, which is Hagar.

这夏甲就是在亚拉伯的西乃山，相当于现在的耶路撒冷，因耶路撒冷同她的儿女都是作奴仆的。
Now this Hagar is Sinai the mountain in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem which now is, for she is in slavery with her children.

但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我们的母，
But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother;

因为经上记着：“那不生育，没有生产过的，你要快乐；那未曾经过产难的，你要放声呼喊，因为独居的，比有丈夫的儿女更多。”
For it is written, “Rejoice, barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not travailing, because many are the children of her who is desolate rather than of her who has her husband.”

弟兄们，你们乃是借着应许生的儿女，像以撒一样。
But you, brothers, in the way Isaac was, are children of promise.

只是，当时那按着肉体生的，怎样逼迫了那按着灵生的，现在也是这样。
But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

然而经上是怎么说的？“把使女和她儿子赶出去，因为使女的儿子，绝不可与自主妇人的儿子一同承受产业。”
But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the maidservant and her son, for the son of the maidservant shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman.”

所以，弟兄们，我们不是使女的儿女，乃是自主妇人的儿女了。
So then, brothers, we are not children of the maidservant but of the free woman.

名誉强如贵重的膏油；人死的日子胜过出生的日子。
A good name is better than precious ointment, / And the day of death, than the day of one's birth.

往遭丧的家去，强如往宴乐的家去；因为死是众人的结局，活人必将这事放在心上。
It is better to go to the house of mourning / Than to go to the house of feasting, / Because that is the end of every man, / And the living takes it to heart.

忧愁强如喜笑；因为愁容使心得益处。
Sorrow is better than laughter, / For by the sadness of face the heart is made good.

智慧人的心在遭丧之家；愚昧人的心在快乐之家。
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, / But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

听智慧人的责备，强如听愚昧人的歌唱。
It is better for one to hear the rebuke of a wise man / Than for one to hear the song of fools.

愚昧人的笑声，好像锅下烧荆棘的爆声；这也是虚空。
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, / So is the laughter of fools. / This also is vanity.

欺压会使智慧人狂妄；贿赂能败坏人心。
Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, / And a bribe destroys the heart.

事情的终局，强如事情的起头；灵里忍耐，胜过灵里高傲。
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; / Better is patience of spirit than haughtiness of spirit.

你不要灵里急躁恼怒，因为恼怒存在愚昧人的怀中。
Do not be quick in your spirit to become angry, / For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

不要说，为何先前的日子强过如今的日子呢？你这样问，不是出于智慧。
Do not say, How is it that the former days were better than these? / For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

智慧和基业都是好的，对得见天日的人乃是益处。
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, / And an advantage to those who see the sun.

因为智慧护庇人，好像银钱护庇人一样。惟独智慧能保全智慧人的生命；这就是知识的益处。
For wisdom is a defense, as money is a defense; / But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who have it.

你要察看神的作为；因神所弯曲的，谁能变为直呢？
Consider the work of God, / For who can straighten what He has made crooked?

遇亨通的日子，你当喜乐；遭患难的日子，你当思想；神造了这样，也造了那样，为叫人查不出身后有什么事。
In the day of prosperity be joyful, / And in the day of adversity consider. / God has made the one as well as the other, / So that man may not find out anything about what is after him.

我在虚度的日子中见过一切的事：有义人在自己的义中灭亡；有恶人在自己的恶中享长寿。
I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

不要行义过分，也不要过于自逞智慧，何必自取败亡呢？
Do not be overly righteous, and do not be overly wise; why should you destroy yourself?

不要行恶过分，也不要作愚昧人，何必不到期而死呢？
Do not be overly wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die when it is not your time?

你最好持住这个，那个也不要放松；因为敬畏神的人，必全都兼顾。
It is better for you to take hold of the one without letting go of the other, for he who fears God will come out of it with them all.

智慧使有智慧的人，比城中十个掌权的人更有能力。
Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

行善而不犯罪的义人，地上实在没有。
Surely there is not a righteous man on the earth who does good and does not sin.

人所说的一切话，你不要放在心上，恐怕听见你的仆人咒诅你。
Also, do not give heed to all words spoken, lest you hear your servant cursing you.

因为你心里知道，自己也曾多次咒诅别人。
For your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others also.

我曾用智慧试验这一切事；我说，我要有智慧，智慧却离我远。
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

已有的事离我甚远，深而又深，谁能测透呢？
That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

我转念，一心要知道，要查究，要寻求智慧和事理；又要知道邪恶为愚昧，愚昧为狂妄。
I turned and my heart was set to know and to search and seek out wisdom and the sum of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness.

我发现有一等妇人比死还苦毒：她的心是陷阱网罗，手是锁链。蒙神喜悦的人必躲避她；有罪的人却被她缠住。
And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is traps and snares, whose hands are fetters. One who is well-pleasing to God escapes from her, but the sinner is taken by her.

传道者说，看哪，这是我发现的；我逐一推算，要找出事理，
See, this is what I have found, says the Preacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum,

我心仍在寻找，却未寻到。在一千人中，我寻到一个正直人，但在这些人中，却寻不到一个妇人。
Which my soul is still seeking but has not found. One man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all these I have not found.

看哪，我所找到的只有一件，就是神将人造得正直，但他们却寻出许多巧计。
See, this alone have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

谁如智慧人呢？谁知道事情的解释呢？人的智慧使他的脸发光，并使他脸上的戾气改变。
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.

我劝你遵守王的命令；因为这是你在神前起的誓。
I say, Keep the commandment of the king, and that, because of the oath before God.

不要急着离开王的面前，不要参与恶事，因为凡王所喜悦的事，他都要行。
Do not hurry to leave him; do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.

王的话本有权力，谁会问他说，你在作什么呢？
For the king's word is powerful, and who will say to him, What are you doing?

凡遵守命令的，必不经历祸患；智慧人的心能晓得时机和定例。
He who keeps the commandment will know nothing evil, and a wise man's heart will know the proper time and manner.

各样事务成就都有时机和定例，纵然人的苦难重压在他身上；
For there is a proper time and manner for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy upon him;

他不知道将来的事，因为将来如何，谁能告诉他呢？
For he does not know what will be, for who can tell him how it will be?

无人有权力掌管气息，将气息留住；也无人有权力掌管死期；在争战时，无人能免役，邪恶也不能救自己的主人。
There is no man who has power over his breath to retain his breath, and no one has power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the battle, nor will wickedness deliver its own master.

这一切我都见过，也专心查考日光之下所作的一切事；有时这人管辖那人，使他受害。
All this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun when a man overpowers another man to his hurt.

然后我见恶人得以埋葬，他们生前进入并离开圣处，却在他们这样行的城中被人忘记。这也是虚空。
And then I saw the wicked buried, who before had gone in and come forth from the holy place and were forgotten in the city where they had thus acted. This also is vanity.

因为对恶事的判决不立刻执行，所以世人满心作恶。
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set within them to do evil.

罪人虽然作恶百次，倒享长寿；然而我也知道，敬畏神的，就是在祂面前敬畏的人，终久必得福乐。
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will be well with the God-fearing who are in fear before Him;

恶人却不得福乐，也不得享长寿；他的日子好像影儿，因他在神面前不存敬畏。
But it will not be well with the wicked man, nor will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he is not in fear before God.

地上有一件虚空的事，就是义人照恶人所行的遭报，又有恶人照义人所行的遭报。我说，这也是虚空。
There is a vanity that is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom things happen according to the deeds of the wicked and there are wicked men to whom things happen according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this also is vanity.

我就称赞快乐，原来人在日光之下，莫强如吃喝快乐；因为在日光之下神所赐他一生的日子里，这必在他的劳碌中，时常伴随他。
So I praised pleasure, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat and to drink and to rejoice; for that will stay with him in his labor during the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

我专心要认识智慧，要看地上所作一切辛劳的事（有昼夜不睡觉不合眼的）。
When I set my heart to know wisdom and to see the travail that is done on the earth (even though man's eyes do not see sleep day or night),

我就看明神一切的作为，知道人查不出日光之下所作的事；因为任凭人劳碌寻索，都找不出来；智慧人虽说他必知道，也找不出来。
Then I saw every work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun, because however man labors to seek it out, he will not find it out; and even if the wise man says that he will come to know it, he is not able to find it out.

我将这一切事放在心上，详细考究，就看明义人和智慧人，并他们的作为，都在神手中；或是爱，或是恨，人不能知道；一切都在他们的前面。
For all this I laid on my heart, so that I might explain all this, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; man knows neither love nor hate; all is before them.

凡临到众人的事都是一样：义人和恶人，好人、洁净人和不洁净人，献祭的和不献祭的，所遭遇的都是一样。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。
All things are alike to all: One thing happens to the righteous man and to the wicked man, to the good and to the clean and to the unclean, to him who sacrifices and to him who does not sacrifice; as the good man is, so is the sinner; he who swears is like him who fears an oath.

在日光之下所行的一切事上有一祸患，就是众人所遭遇的都是一样；并且世人的心充满了恶；他们活着的时候心里狂妄，后来就归死人那里去了。
This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing happens to all; moreover the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, they go to the dead.

与一切活人相连的，那人还有指望，因为活着的狗比死了的狮子更强。
For there is hope for whoever is joined to all the living — surely a living dog is better than a dead lion —

活着的人知道自己必死；死了的人却毫无所知，也不再得赏赐；他们的名被人遗忘。
For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，早都消灭了；在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有分了。
Their love, their hate, and their envy have already perished, nor do they have some portion yet in all that is done under the sun forever.

你只管去欢欢喜喜吃你的饭，心中快乐喝你的酒，因为神已经悦纳你的作为。
Go; eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.

你的衣服当时常洁白，你的头上也不要缺少膏油。
Let your garments always be white, and do not let oil be lacking on your head.

在你一生虚空的日子，就是神赐你在日光之下一切虚空的日子，当同你所爱的妻子，享受人生，因为那是你一生在日光之下劳碌的事上所得的分。
Enjoy life with the wife whom you have loved all the days of your life of vanity which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity; for this is your portion in life and in your labor by which you have labored under the sun.

凡你手所当作的事要尽力去作；因为在你所要去的阴间，没有工作，没有谋算，没有知识，也没有智慧。
Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.

我又见日光之下快跑的未必能赢，力战的未必得胜，并且智慧的未必得粮食，聪明的未必得资财，有知识的也未必得喜悦；所临到众人的，是在于时候和机会。
Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor is the battle to the mighty, nor is even the bread to the wise, nor are riches to those who have understanding, nor is favor to those who have knowledge; but time and chance happen to them all.

原来人也不知道自己的时候：鱼被恶网圈住，鸟被网罗捉住，祸患忽然临到的时候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
For also man does not know his time: Like fish that are caught in a deadly net and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of men are ensnared in an evil time when it falls suddenly on them.

我也见日光之下有一件事乃是智慧，据我看是大的，
This also I have seen as wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

就是有一小城，其中的人数稀少，有大君王来攻击，将城围困，修筑高垒攻打。
There was a small city with a few men in it; and a great king came against it and surrounded it and built great siegeworks against it.

城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。
And in it there was found a poor wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom; yet no one remembered that poor man.

我就说，智慧胜过勇力；然而那贫穷人的智慧被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。
So I said, Wisdom is better than strength; but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard.

智慧人在安静中所说的话，比掌权者在愚昧人中的喊声更有人听。
The words of the wise spoken quietly are heeded more than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

智慧胜过打仗的兵器；但一个罪人能败坏许多善事。
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

死苍蝇使调制香料者的膏油变臭发酵；这样，一点愚昧也败坏智慧和尊荣。
Dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, to ferment; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

智慧人的心偏右；愚昧人的心偏左。
A wise man's heart inclines to his right, but a fool's heart inclines to his left.

并且愚昧人行在路上显出无知，告诉众人他是愚昧人。
And also, when the fool walks on the way, his sense fails him, and he tells everyone that he is a fool.

掌权者若向你生气，你不要离开本位，因为柔和能免大过。
If the ruler's spirit rises up against you, do not leave your place; for composure allays great offenses.

我见日光之下有一祸患，似乎出于掌权者的错误，
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, like an error that proceeds from the ruler:

就是愚昧人多居高位，富足人坐在低位。
Folly is set in many high places, and rich men sit in a low place.

我见过仆人骑马，首领像仆人在地上步行。
I have seen servants on horses and princes walking on the earth like servants.

挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆通墙垣的，必为蛇所咬。
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent;

开凿石头的，必受损伤；劈开木头的，必遭危险。
Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.

铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费力气；但智慧有益，使人成功。
If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then he must apply more strength; but wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

未行法术以先，蛇若咬人，后行法术就无益了。
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage in a charmer.

智慧人的口说出恩言，愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up.

他口中的言语起头是愚昧；他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

愚昧人多言多语。人不知将来有什么事；他身后的事谁能告诉他呢？
Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will be; and what will be after him, who can tell him?

愚昧人的劳碌使自己困乏，因为连如何进城他也不知道。
The labor of fools wears them out, because they do not know even how to get to town.

邦国啊，你的王若是孩童，你的众首领早晨吃喝宴乐，你就有祸了！
Woe to you, O land whose king is a young boy and whose princes feast in the morning!

邦国啊，你的王若是贵胄之子，你的众首领按时吃喝，为要补力，不为酒醉，你就有福了！
Happy are you, O land whose king is the son of nobles and whose princes feast at the proper time, for strength and not for drunkenness!

因人懒惰，房顶塌下；因人手懒，房屋滴漏。
Through slothfulness the rafters sag, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

人设摆筵席是为喜笑；酒使人生快活；钱叫万事应心。
They make a feast for laughter, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.

你不可咒诅君王，甚至不可心怀此念；也不可在你卧房咒诅富户；因为空中的鸟必传送这声音，有翅膀的也必述说这事。
Do not curse the king even in your thought, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom; for a bird of heaven will carry the sound, or something with wings will tell the matter.

当将你的粮食撒在水面，因为日久必能得着。
Cast your bread upon the surface of the waters, for you will find it in many days.

你要分给七人，或分给八人，因为你不知道有什么灾祸会临到地上。
Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, for you do not know what calamity will happen on the earth.

云若满了雨，就必倾倒在地上；树若向南倒或向北倒，树倒在何处，就留在何处。
If the clouds are full, they pour forth rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there will it be.

看风的，必不撒种；望云的，必不收割。
He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

你不知道风的途径，也不知道骨头在孕妇的胎中如何长成；照样，你也不知道造万物之神的作为。
Just as you do not know what the path of the wind is or how the bones are formed in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.

早晨要撒种，晚上也不要歇手，因为你不知道哪一样发旺；或是这样，或是那样，或是两样都好。
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not hold back your hands; for you do not know which will prosper, this one or that, or whether both alike will be good.

光是佳美的，眼见日光也是可悦的。
The light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

人若活多年，就当快乐多年；然而也当记得黑暗的日子，因为这些日子必多；那要来的都是虚空。
Indeed if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in all of them; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vanity.