今日讀經

名譽強如美好的膏油

¹名譽強如美好的膏油；人死的日子勝過人生的日子。A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.

²往遭喪的家去，強如往宴樂的家去；因為死是眾人的結局，活人也必將這事放在心上。It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

³憂愁強如喜笑；因為面帶愁容，終必使心喜樂。Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

⁴智慧人的心在遭喪之家；愚昧人的心在快樂之家。The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

智慧人的責備

⁵聽智慧人的責備，強如聽愚昧人的歌唱。It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

⁶愚昧人的笑聲，好像鍋下燒荊棘的爆聲；這也是虛空。For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

⁷勒索使智慧人變為愚妄；賄賂能敗壞人的慧心。Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

⁸事情的終局強如事情的起頭；存心忍耐的，勝過居心驕傲的。The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

⁹你不要心裡急躁惱怒，因為惱怒存在愚昧人的懷中。Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

¹⁰不要說：先前的日子強過如今的日子，是甚麼緣故呢？你這樣問，不是出於智慧。Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

智慧護庇人

¹¹智慧和產業並好，而且見天日的人得智慧更為有益。Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.

¹²因為智慧護庇人，好像銀錢護庇人一樣。惟獨智慧能保全智慧人的生命。這就是知識的益處。For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

¹³你要察看　神的作為；因　神使為曲的，誰能變為直呢？Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?

¹⁴遇亨通的日子你當喜樂；遭患難的日子你當思想；因為　神使這兩樣並列，為的是叫人查不出身後有甚麼事。In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

不要過分

¹⁵有義人行義，反致滅亡；有惡人行惡，倒享長壽。這都是我在虛度之日中所見過的。In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

¹⁶不要行義過分，也不要過於自逞智慧，何必自取敗亡呢？Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷不要行惡過分，也不要為人愚昧，何必不到期而死呢？Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸你持守這個為美，那個也不要鬆手；因為敬畏　神的人，必從這兩樣出來。It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

智慧有能力，人卻都有罪

¹⁹智慧使有智慧的人比城中十個官長更有能力。Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

²⁰時常行善而不犯罪的義人，世上實在沒有。Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

²¹人所說的一切話，你不要放在心上，恐怕聽見你的僕人咒詛你。Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

²²因為你心裡知道，自己也曾屢次咒詛別人。For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

尋求智慧卻未曾找到

²³我曾用智慧試驗這一切事；我說，要得智慧，智慧卻離我遠。All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

²⁴萬事之理，離我甚遠，而且最深，誰能測透呢？What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

²⁵我轉念，一心要知道，要考察，要尋求智慧和萬事的理由；又要知道邪惡為愚昧，愚昧為狂妄。I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

²⁶我得知有等婦人比死還苦：她的心是網羅，手是鎖鍊。凡蒙　神喜悅的人必能躲避她；有罪的人卻被她纏住了。And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

^27–28傳道者說：「看哪，一千男子中，我找到一個正直人，但眾女子中，沒有找到一個。」我將這事一一比較，要尋求其理，我心仍要尋找，卻未曾找到。“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation. While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

²⁹我所找到的只有一件，就是　神造人原是正直，但他們尋出許多巧計。Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

智慧人遵守王的命令

¹誰如智慧人呢？誰知道事情的解釋呢？人的智慧使他的臉發光，並使他臉上的暴氣改變。Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

²我勸你遵守王的命令；既指　神起誓，理當如此。Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.

³不要急躁離開王的面前，不要固執行惡，因為他凡事都隨自己的心意而行。Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

⁴王的話本有權力，誰敢問他說「你做甚麼」呢？For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

⁵凡遵守命令的，必不經歷禍患；智慧人的心能辨明時候和定理（原文是審判；下節同）。Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.

⁶各樣事務成就都有時候和定理，因為人的苦難重壓在他身上。For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.

⁷他不知道將來的事，因為將來如何，誰能告訴他呢？Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

⁸無人有權力掌管生命，將生命留住；也無人有權力掌管死期；這場爭戰，無人能免；邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

⁹這一切我都見過，也專心查考日光之下所做的一切事。有時這人管轄那人，令人受害。All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

惡人似乎得勢

¹⁰我見惡人埋葬，歸入墳墓；又見行正直事的離開聖地，在城中被人忘記。這也是虛空。Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.

¹¹因為斷定罪名不立刻施刑，所以世人滿心作惡。When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

¹²罪人雖然作惡百次，倒享長久的年日；然而我準知道，敬畏　神的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

¹³惡人卻不得福樂，也不得長久的年日；這年日好像影兒，因他不敬畏　神。Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

¹⁴世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反照惡人所行的；又有惡人所遭遇的，反照義人所行的。我說，這也是虛空。There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

稱讚快樂

¹⁵我就稱讚快樂，原來人在日光之下，莫強如吃喝快樂；因為他在日光之下，　神賜他一生的年日，要從勞碌中，時常享受所得的。So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

¹⁶我專心求智慧，要看世上所做的事。（有晝夜不睡覺不合眼的。）When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

¹⁷我就看明　神一切的作為，知道人查不出日光之下所做的事；任憑他費多少力尋查，都查不出來，就是智慧人雖想知道，也是查不出來。I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

眾人都遭遇死亡

¹我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為都在　神手中；或是愛，或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

²凡臨到眾人的事都是一樣：義人和惡人都遭遇一樣的事；好人，潔淨人和不潔淨人，獻祭的與不獻祭的，也是一樣。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

³在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件禍患，就是眾人所遭遇的都是一樣，並且世人的心充滿了惡；活著的時候心裡狂妄，後來就歸死人那裡去了。This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

⁴與一切活人相連的，那人還有指望，因為活著的狗比死了的獅子更強。There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

⁵活著的人知道必死；死了的人毫無所知，也不再得賞賜；他們的名無人記念。For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

⁶他們的愛，他們的恨，他們的嫉妒，早都消滅了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有分了。Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

歡喜吃喝，盡力做事

⁷你只管去歡歡喜喜吃你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為　神已經悅納你的作為。Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

⁸你的衣服當時常潔白，你頭上也不要缺少膏油。Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.

⁹在你一生虛空的年日，就是　神賜你在日光之下虛空的年日，當同你所愛的妻，快活度日，因為那是你生前在日光之下勞碌的事上所得的分。Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

¹⁰凡你手所當做的事要盡力去做；因為在你所必去的陰間沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

快跑的未必能贏

¹¹我又轉念：見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎當時的機會。I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

¹²原來人也不知道自己的定期。魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中也是如此。For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

被遺忘的窮智慧人

¹³我見日光之下有一樣智慧，據我看乃是廣大，I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

¹⁴就是有一小城，其中的人數稀少，有大君王來攻擊，修築營壘，將城圍困。There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

¹⁵城中有一個貧窮的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，卻沒有人記念那窮人。Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

¹⁶我就說，智慧勝過勇力；然而那貧窮人的智慧被人藐視，他的話也無人聽從。And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

¹⁷寧可在安靜之中聽智慧人的言語，不聽掌管愚昧人的喊聲。The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.

¹⁸智慧勝過打仗的兵器；但一個罪人能敗壞許多善事。Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

承受產業的孩子

¹我說那承受產業的，雖然是全業的主人，但為孩童的時候卻與奴僕毫無分別，What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

²乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

³我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

時候滿足，神差遣祂的兒子

⁴及至時候滿足，　神就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

⁵要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得著兒子的名分。to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

⁶你們既為兒子，　神就差他兒子的靈進入你們（原文是我們）的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

⁷可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了；既是兒子，就靠著　神為後嗣。So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

為何還要作奴僕

⁸但從前你們不認識　神的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕；Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

⁹現在你們既然認識　神，更可說是被　神所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢？But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

¹⁰你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份，You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

¹¹我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

加拉太人當初的接待

¹²弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

¹³你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

¹⁴你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同　神的使者，如同基督耶穌。And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

¹⁵你們當日所誇的福氣在哪裡呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

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¹⁶如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

熱心的真假與保羅的苦心

¹⁷那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們（原文是把你們關在外面），叫你們熱心待他們。Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

¹⁸在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

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¹⁹我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裡。My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

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²⁰我巴不得現今在你們那裡，改換口氣，因我為你們心裡作難。how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

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夏甲和撒拉的比方

²¹你們這願意在律法以下的人，請告訴我，你們豈沒有聽見律法嗎？Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

²²因為律法上記著，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

²³然而，那使女所生的是按著血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑著應許生的。His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

²⁴這都是比方：那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

²⁵這夏甲二字是指著阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

²⁶但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

²⁷因為經上記著：不懷孕、不生養的，你要歡樂；未曾經過產難的，你要高聲歡呼；因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

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我們是自主婦人的兒女

²⁸弟兄們，我們是憑著應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

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²⁹當時，那按著血氣生的逼迫了那按著聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

³⁰然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

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³¹弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，乃是自主婦人的兒女了。Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

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