今日读经

虚空的虚空

¹在耶路撒冷作王、大卫的儿子、传道者的言语。These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

²传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

³人一切的劳碌，就是他在日光之下的劳碌，有什么益处呢？What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

万事循环，日光之下并无新事

⁴一代过去，一代又来，地却永远长存。Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

⁵日头出来，日头落下，急归所出之地。The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

⁶风往南刮，又向北转，不住地旋转，而且返回转行原道。The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

⁷江河都往海里流，海却不满；江河从何处流，仍归还何处。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.

⁸万事令人厌烦（或译：万物满有困乏），人不能说尽。眼看，看不饱；耳听，听不足。All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

⁹已有的事后必再有；已行的事后必再行。日光之下并无新事。What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

¹⁰岂有一件事人能指着说这是新的？哪知，在我们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已过的世代，无人记念；将来的世代，后来的人也不记念。There is no remembrance of those who came before, and those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow after.

智慧也是捕风

¹²我传道者在耶路撒冷作过以色列的王。I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³我专心用智慧寻求、查究天下所做的一切事，乃知　神叫世人所经练的是极重的劳苦。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我见日光之下所做的一切事，都是虚空，都是捕风。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弯曲的，不能变直；缺少的，不能足数。What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

¹⁶我心里议论说：我得了大智慧，胜过我以前在耶路撒冷的众人，而且我心中多经历智慧和知识的事。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我又专心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知这也是捕风。So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

¹⁸因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦；加增知识的，就加增忧伤。For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

享乐的试验

¹我心里说：“来吧，我以喜乐试试你，你好享福！”谁知，这也是虚空。I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

²我指嬉笑说：“这是狂妄。”论喜乐说：“有何功效呢？”I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

³我心里察究，如何用酒使我肉体舒畅，我心却仍以智慧引导我；又如何持住愚昧，等我看明世人，在天下一生当行何事为美。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.

大工程与财富

⁴我为自己动大工程，建造房屋，栽种葡萄园，I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

⁵修造园囿，在其中栽种各样果木树；I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

⁶挖造水池，用以浇灌嫩小的树木。I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

⁷我买了仆婢，也有生在家中的仆婢；又有许多牛群羊群，胜过以前在耶路撒冷众人所有的。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我又为自己积蓄金银和君王的财宝，并各省的财宝；又得唱歌的男女和世人所喜爱的物，并许多的妃嫔。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这样，我就日见昌盛，胜过以前在耶路撒冷的众人。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，我没有留下不给它的；我心所乐的，我没有禁止不享受的；因我的心为我一切所劳碌的快乐，这就是我从劳碌中所得的分。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后来，我察看我手所经营的一切事和我劳碌所成的功。谁知都是虚空，都是捕风；在日光之下毫无益处。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.

智慧人和愚昧人一样死

¹²我转念观看智慧、狂妄，和愚昧。在王以后而来的人还能做什么呢？也不过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我便看出智慧胜过愚昧，如同光明胜过黑暗。And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

¹⁴智慧人的眼目光明（光明：原文是在他头上），愚昧人在黑暗里行。我却看明有一件事，这两等人都必遇见。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我就心里说：“愚昧人所遇见的，我也必遇见，我为何更有智慧呢？”我心里说，这也是虚空。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智慧人和愚昧人一样，永远无人记念，因为日后都被忘记；可叹智慧人死亡，与愚昧人无异。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我所以恨恶生命；因为在日光之下所行的事我都以为烦恼，都是虚空，都是捕风。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.

劳碌的成果留给别人

¹⁸我恨恶一切的劳碌，就是我在日光之下的劳碌，因为我得来的必留给我以后的人。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，谁能知道？他竟要管理我劳碌所得的，就是我在日光之下用智慧所得的。这也是虚空。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，我转想我在日光之下所劳碌的一切工作，心便绝望。So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

²¹因为有人用智慧、知识、灵巧所劳碌得来的，却要留给未曾劳碌的人为分。这也是虚空，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人在日光之下劳碌累心，在他一切的劳碌上得着什么呢？For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

²³因为他日日忧虑，他的劳苦成为愁烦，连夜间心也不安。这也是虚空。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.

吃喝享福出于神的手

²⁴人莫强如吃喝，且在劳碌中享福，我看这也是出于　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论到吃用、享福，谁能胜过我呢？For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?

²⁶神喜悦谁，就给谁智慧、知识，和喜乐；惟有罪人，　神使他劳苦，叫他将所收聚的、所堆积的归给　神所喜悦的人。这也是虚空，也是捕风。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.

凡事都有定时

¹凡事都有定期，天下万务都有定时。To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

²生有时，死有时；栽种有时，拔出所栽种的也有时；a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³杀戮有时，医治有时；拆毁有时，建造有时；a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

⁴哭有时，笑有时；哀恸有时，跳舞有时；a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵抛掷石头有时，堆聚石头有时；怀抱有时，不怀抱有时；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寻找有时，失落有时；保守有时，舍弃有时；a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

⁷撕裂有时，缝补有时；静默有时，言语有时；a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸喜爱有时，恨恶有时；争战有时，和好有时。a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

神造万物各按其时成为美好

⁹这样看来，做事的人在他的劳碌上有什么益处呢？What does the worker gain from his toil?

¹⁰我见　神叫世人劳苦，使他们在其中受经练。I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.

¹¹神造万物，各按其时成为美好，又将永生（原文是永远）安置在世人心里。然而　神从始至终的作为，人不能参透。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，莫强如终身喜乐行善；I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,

¹³并且人人吃喝，在他一切劳碌中享福，这也是　神的恩赐。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；无所增添，无所减少。　神这样行，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现今的事早先就有了，将来的事早已也有了，并且　神使已过的事重新再来（或译：并且　神再寻回已过的事）。What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

问安

¹作使徒的保罗（不是由于人，也不是借着人，乃是借着耶稣基督，与叫他从死里复活的父　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和一切与我同在的众弟兄，写信给加拉太的各教会。and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:

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³愿恩惠、平安从父　神与我们的主耶稣基督归与你们！Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

⁴基督照我们父　神的旨意，为我们的罪舍己，要救我们脱离这罪恶的世代。who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

⁵但愿荣耀归于　神，直到永永远远。阿们！to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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没有别的福音

⁶我希奇你们这么快离开那借着基督之恩召你们的，去从别的福音。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那并不是福音，不过有些人搅扰你们，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但无论是我们，是天上来的使者，若传福音给你们，与我们所传给你们的不同，他就应当被咒诅。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我们已经说了，现在又说，若有人传福音给你们，与你们所领受的不同，他就应当被咒诅。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我现在是要得人的心呢？还是要得　神的心呢？我岂是讨人的喜欢吗？若仍旧讨人的喜欢，我就不是基督的仆人了。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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福音是从基督启示来的

¹¹弟兄们，我告诉你们，我素来所传的福音不是出于人的意思。For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

¹²因为我不是从人领受的，也不是人教导我的，乃是从耶稣基督启示来的。I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

保罗从前在犹太教中

¹³你们听见我从前在犹太教中所行的事，怎样极力逼迫残害　神的教会。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我又在犹太教中，比我本国许多同岁的人更有长进，为我祖宗的遗传更加热心。I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

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蒙召与最初的年日

¹⁵然而，那把我从母腹里分别出来、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既然乐意将他儿子启示在我心里，叫我把他传在外邦人中，我就没有与属血气的人商量，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也没有上耶路撒冷去见那些比我先作使徒的，惟独往阿拉伯去，后又回到大马士革。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过了三年，才上耶路撒冷去见矶法，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至于别的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我都没有看见。But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

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²⁰我写给你们的不是谎话，这是我在　神面前说的。I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

²¹以后我到了叙利亚和基利家境内。Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

²²那时，犹太信基督的各教会都没有见过我的面。I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

²³不过听说那从前逼迫我们的，现在传扬他原先所残害的真道。They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

²⁴他们就为我的缘故，归荣耀给　神。And they glorified God because of me.

十四年后上耶路撒冷

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

²我是奉启示上去的，把我在外邦人中所传的福音对弟兄们陈说；却是背地里对那有名望之人说的，惟恐我现在，或是从前，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但与我同去的提多，虽是希腊人，也没有勉强他受割礼；Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

⁴因为有偷着引进来的假弟兄，私下窥探我们在基督耶稣里的自由，要叫我们作奴仆。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我们就是一刻的工夫也没有容让顺服他们，为要叫福音的真理仍存在你们中间。We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

使徒们向保罗行相交之礼

⁶至于那些有名望的，不论他是何等人，都与我无干。　神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，并没有加增我什么，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反倒看见了主托我传福音给那未受割礼的人，正如托彼得传福音给那受割礼的人。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（那感动彼得、叫他为受割礼之人作使徒的，也感动我，叫我为外邦人作使徒；）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又知道所赐给我的恩典，那称为教会柱石的雅各、矶法、约翰，就向我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之礼，叫我们往外邦人那里去，他们往受割礼的人那里去。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只是愿意我们记念穷人；这也是我本来热心去行的。They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

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