| 訓道篇 | Ecclesiastes |
|---|
| 1在你年輕的時日，在災禍的日子來到之前，即在你所說的那些「沒有歡樂」的日子來到之前，你應記念你的造主； | 1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; |
| 2不要等到太陽、光體、月亮、星辰失光，雨後雲彩再來； | 2 Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; |
| 3因為那時，看門者戰慄，大力士屈伏，推磨的婦女因為少而停工，眺望窗外的女人面目昏黑， | 3 When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; |
| 4兩扇街門將要關閉，磨聲低微，雀鳥息聲，歌女低吟， | 4 When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; |
| 5怕上高處，行路危險，杏子被棄，蚱蜢被嫌，續隨子失去效力，因為人要回永久的家鄉，哀悼的人徘徊街頭； | 5 And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; |
| 6那時銀鏈將斷，金燈將碎，水罐將破於泉旁，輪子將爛於井邊， | 6 Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, |
| 7灰塵將歸於原來的土中，生氣將歸於天主，因為原是天主之所賜。 | 7And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. |
| 8訓道者說：虛而又虛，萬事皆虛。 | 8Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity! |
| 9訓道者不但是智者，並且教人獲得知識，在沈思推究之後，編撰了許多格言。 | 9Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10訓道者費神尋找適當的語句，忠誠地寫下了真理之言。 | 10Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision. |
| 11智者的話好似錐子；收集起的言論集，好像釘牢的釘子：二者都是一位牧者所賜。 | 11 The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector. |
| 12除此之外，我兒，不必再找別的書籍，書不論寫多少，總沒有止境；用功過度，必使身體疲倦。 | 12As to more than these, my son, beware. Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh. |
| 13總而言之：「你應敬畏天主，遵守他的誡命，因為這是眾人的義務。」 | 13 The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all; |
| 14因為天主對一切行為，連最隱秘的，不論好壞，都要一一審判。 | 14because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad. |
