| 訓道篇 | Ecclesiastes |
|---|
| 1一個死蒼蠅能敗壞一碗製香膏者的香膏；一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。 | 1More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly! |
| 2智慧人的心傾向右，愚人的心偏向左。 | 2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left. |
| 3愚人連在走路時，也是無知，並稱眾人皆糊塗。 | 3When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish. |
| 4若當權者向你生氣，你不可離棄崗位，因為心平氣和能避免大錯。 | 4Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses. |
| 5我在太陽下見了一件不幸的事，似乎是出於掌權者的錯誤： | 5I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: |
| 6愚人佔居高位，貴人屈居下位。 | 6a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places. |
| 7我看見僕人騎馬，而王侯反像僕人一樣步行。 | 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves. |
| 8挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷； | 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent. |
| 9開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷，砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。 | 9He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it. |
| 10鐵器鈍了，如不將刃磨快，必費許多氣力；成功是智慧的效能。 | 10If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill. |
| 11行法術之前，就已被蛇咬傷，法術於行法術的人，就沒有好處。 | 11If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. |
| 12智者口中的言語，為人有益；愚人的口舌卻自招滅亡： | 12Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him. |
| 13他口中的語言，開始是愚昧，最後卻是殘忍的狂語。 | 13The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness; |
| 14愚人只知多言：「將來的事怎樣，人不知道；人身後的事，有誰來告訢他？」 | 14yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him? |
| 15愚人以勞碌為煩惱，因為連怎樣進城，他也不知道。 | 15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city? |
| 16邦國，你的君王若是一個幼童，你的長官若清晨宴飲，你就有禍了！ | 16Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning! |
| 17邦國，你的君王若出身顯貴，你的長官若宴飲有時，只求養身，不為快樂，那你就有禍了。 | 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts). |
| 18屋頂坍塌，由於怠惰；房屋滴漏，由於手懶。 | 18When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks. |
| 19設宴是為歡樂，酒可使生活愉快；錢能應付一切。 | 19Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything. |
| 20在床榻上，不要詛咒君王；在臥室內，不要咒罵長官，因為空中的飛鳥能傳音，有翅翼的能傳話。 | 20Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say. |
