今日讀經

虛空的虛空

¹在耶路撒冷作王、大衛的兒子、傳道者的言語。These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

²傳道者說：虛空的虛空，虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

³人一切的勞碌，就是他在日光之下的勞碌，有甚麼益處呢？What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

萬事循環，日光之下並無新事

⁴一代過去，一代又來，地卻永遠長存。Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

⁵日頭出來，日頭落下，急歸所出之地。The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

⁶風往南颳，又向北轉，不住地旋轉，而且返回轉行原道。The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

⁷江河都往海裡流，海卻不滿；江河從何處流，仍歸還何處。All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

⁸萬事令人厭煩（或譯：萬物滿有困乏），人不能說盡。眼看，看不飽；耳聽，聽不足。All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

⁹已有的事後必再有；已行的事後必再行。日光之下並無新事。What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

¹⁰豈有一件事人能指著說這是新的？哪知，在我們以前的世代早已有了。Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.

¹¹已過的世代，無人記念；將來的世代，後來的人也不記念。There is no remembrance of those who came before, and those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow after.

智慧也是捕風

¹²我傳道者在耶路撒冷作過以色列的王。I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³我專心用智慧尋求、查究天下所做的一切事，乃知　神叫世人所經練的是極重的勞苦。And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a miserable task God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!

¹⁴我見日光之下所做的一切事，都是虛空，都是捕風。I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

¹⁵彎曲的，不能變直；缺少的，不能足數。What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

¹⁶我心裡議論說：我得了大智慧，勝過我以前在耶路撒冷的眾人，而且我心中多經歷智慧和知識的事。I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷我又專心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知這也是捕風。So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

¹⁸因為多有智慧，就多有愁煩；加增知識的，就加增憂傷。For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

享樂的試驗

¹我心裡說：「來吧，我以喜樂試試你，你好享福！」誰知，這也是虛空。I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

²我指嬉笑說：「這是狂妄。」論喜樂說：「有何功效呢？」I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

³我心裡察究，如何用酒使我肉體舒暢，我心卻仍以智慧引導我；又如何持住愚昧，等我看明世人，在天下一生當行何事為美。I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

大工程與財富

⁴我為自己動大工程，建造房屋，栽種葡萄園，I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

⁵修造園囿，在其中栽種各樣果木樹；I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

⁶挖造水池，用以澆灌嫩小的樹木。I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

⁷我買了僕婢，也有生在家中的僕婢；又有許多牛群羊群，勝過以前在耶路撒冷眾人所有的。I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,

⁸我又為自己積蓄金銀和君王的財寶，並各省的財寶；又得唱歌的男女和世人所喜愛的物，並許多的妃嬪。and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

⁹這樣，我就日見昌盛，勝過以前在耶路撒冷的眾人。我的智慧仍然存留。So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

¹⁰凡我眼所求的，我沒有留下不給它的；我心所樂的，我沒有禁止不享受的；因我的心為我一切所勞碌的快樂，這就是我從勞碌中所得的分。Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

¹¹後來，我察看我手所經營的一切事和我勞碌所成的功。誰知都是虛空，都是捕風；在日光之下毫無益處。Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

智慧人和愚昧人一樣死

¹²我轉念觀看智慧、狂妄，和愚昧。在王以後而來的人還能做甚麼呢？也不過行早先所行的就是了。Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?

¹³我便看出智慧勝過愚昧，如同光明勝過黑暗。And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

¹⁴智慧人的眼目光明（光明：原文是在他頭上），愚昧人在黑暗裡行。我卻看明有一件事，這兩等人都必遇見。The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.

¹⁵我就心裡說：「愚昧人所遇見的，我也必遇見，我為何更有智慧呢？」我心裡說，這也是虛空。So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.

¹⁶智慧人和愚昧人一樣，永遠無人記念，因為日後都被忘記；可歎智慧人死亡，與愚昧人無異。For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

¹⁷我所以恨惡生命；因為在日光之下所行的事我都以為煩惱，都是虛空，都是捕風。So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

勞碌的成果留給別人

¹⁸我恨惡一切的勞碌，就是我在日光之下的勞碌，因為我得來的必留給我以後的人。I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

¹⁹那人是智慧是愚昧，誰能知道？他竟要管理我勞碌所得的，就是我在日光之下用智慧所得的。這也是虛空。And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

²⁰故此，我轉想我在日光之下所勞碌的一切工作，心便絕望。So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

²¹因為有人用智慧、知識、靈巧所勞碌得來的，卻要留給未曾勞碌的人為分。這也是虛空，也是大患。When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

²²人在日光之下勞碌累心，在他一切的勞碌上得著甚麼呢？For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

²³因為他日日憂慮，他的勞苦成為愁煩，連夜間心也不安。這也是虛空。Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

吃喝享福出於神的手

²⁴人莫強如吃喝，且在勞碌中享福，我看這也是出於　神的手。Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

²⁵論到吃用、享福，誰能勝過我呢？For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?

²⁶神喜悅誰，就給誰智慧、知識，和喜樂；惟有罪人，　神使他勞苦，叫他將所收聚的、所堆積的歸給　神所喜悅的人。這也是虛空，也是捕風。To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

凡事都有定時

¹凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

²生有時，死有時；栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³殺戮有時，醫治有時；拆毀有時，建造有時；a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

⁴哭有時，笑有時；哀慟有時，跳舞有時；a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時；懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

⁶尋找有時，失落有時；保守有時，捨棄有時；a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

⁷撕裂有時，縫補有時；靜默有時，言語有時；a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸喜愛有時，恨惡有時；爭戰有時，和好有時。a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

神造萬物各按其時成為美好

⁹這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？What does the worker gain from his toil?

¹⁰我見　神叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.

¹¹神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生（原文是永遠）安置在世人心裡。然而　神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

¹²我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善；I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,

¹³並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是　神的恩賜。and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.

¹⁴我知道　神一切所做的都必永存；無所增添，無所減少。　神這樣行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

¹⁵現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且　神使已過的事重新再來（或譯：並且　神再尋回已過的事）。What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

問安

¹作使徒的保羅（不是由於人，也不是藉著人，乃是藉著耶穌基督，與叫他從死裡復活的父　神）Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—

²和一切與我同在的眾弟兄，寫信給加拉太的各教會。and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:

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³願恩惠、平安從父　神與我們的主耶穌基督歸與你們！Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

⁴基督照我們父　神的旨意，為我們的罪捨己，要救我們脫離這罪惡的世代。who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

⁵但願榮耀歸於　神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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沒有別的福音

⁶我希奇你們這麼快離開那藉著基督之恩召你們的，去從別的福音。I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

⁷那並不是福音，不過有些人攪擾你們，要把基督的福音更改了。which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

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⁸但無論是我們，是天上來的使者，若傳福音給你們，與我們所傳給你們的不同，他就應當被咒詛。But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!

⁹我們已經說了，現在又說，若有人傳福音給你們，與你們所領受的不同，他就應當被咒詛。As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

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¹⁰我現在是要得人的心呢？還是要得　神的心呢？我豈是討人的喜歡嗎？若仍舊討人的喜歡，我就不是基督的僕人了。Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

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福音是從基督啟示來的

¹¹弟兄們，我告訴你們，我素來所傳的福音不是出於人的意思。For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

¹²因為我不是從人領受的，也不是人教導我的，乃是從耶穌基督啟示來的。I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

保羅從前在猶太教中

¹³你們聽見我從前在猶太教中所行的事，怎樣極力逼迫殘害　神的教會。For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

¹⁴我又在猶太教中，比我本國許多同歲的人更有長進，為我祖宗的遺傳更加熱心。I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

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蒙召與最初的年日

¹⁵然而，那把我從母腹裡分別出來、又施恩召我的　神，But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased

¹⁶既然樂意將他兒子啟示在我心裡，叫我把他傳在外邦人中，我就沒有與屬血氣的人商量，to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

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¹⁷也沒有上耶路撒冷去見那些比我先作使徒的，惟獨往阿拉伯去，後又回到大馬士革。nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

¹⁸過了三年，才上耶路撒冷去見磯法，和他同住了十五天。Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

¹⁹至於別的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我都沒有看見。But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

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²⁰我寫給你們的不是謊話，這是我在　神面前說的。I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

²¹以後我到了敘利亞和基利家境內。Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

²²那時，猶太信基督的各教會都沒有見過我的面。I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

²³不過聽說那從前逼迫我們的，現在傳揚他原先所殘害的真道。They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

²⁴他們就為我的緣故，歸榮耀給　神。And they glorified God because of me.

十四年後上耶路撒冷

¹過了十四年，我同巴拿巴又上耶路撒冷去，並帶著提多同去。Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

²我是奉啟示上去的，把我在外邦人中所傳的福音對弟兄們陳說；卻是背地裡對那有名望之人說的，惟恐我現在，或是從前，徒然奔跑。I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

³但與我同去的提多，雖是希臘人，也沒有勉強他受割禮；Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

⁴因為有偷著引進來的假弟兄，私下窺探我們在基督耶穌裡的自由，要叫我們作奴僕。This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

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⁵我們就是一刻的工夫也沒有容讓順服他們，為要叫福音的真理仍存在你們中間。We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

使徒們向保羅行相交之禮

⁶至於那些有名望的，不論他是何等人，都與我無干。　神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼，But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.

⁷反倒看見了主託我傳福音給那未受割禮的人，正如託彼得傳福音給那受割禮的人。On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.

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⁸（那感動彼得、叫他為受割禮之人作使徒的，也感動我，叫我為外邦人作使徒；）For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

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⁹又知道所賜給我的恩典，那稱為教會柱石的雅各、磯法、約翰，就向我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之禮，叫我們往外邦人那裡去，他們往受割禮的人那裡去。And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

¹⁰只是願意我們記念窮人；這也是我本來熱心去行的。They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

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