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Ecclesiastes 4 Introduction
简体中文
英文原文
Having arrived Ecclesiastes 3:22 at a partial answer to his question Ecclesiastes 1:3; namely, that there is positive good (a portion) in that satisfaction which is found in working, Solomon now turns to the case of such happiness being interrupted and reduced to vanity by various contingencies - by oppression Ecclesiastes 4:1-3; by envy Ecclesiastes 4:4-6; by loneliness Ecclesiastes 4:7-12; and by decay of working power Ecclesiastes 4:13-16. The first two instances seem taken from the lower ranks of life, and the last two derived from the higher ranks of life.
1
Ecclesiastes 4:1
简体中文
“我又转念，思想”——更确切的译法是“我转回，又看见”。他转而观看其他种种现象，并借此检验自己先前的结论。
“受欺压的”——见传道书引论。
英文原文
So I returned, and considered - Rather, And I returned and saw. He turns to look upon other phenomena, and to test his previous conclusion by them.
Oppressed - See the introduction to Ecclesiastes.
4
Ecclesiastes 4:4
简体中文
“各样的灵巧工作”（every right work）——更宜译作“工作中的每一项成功”。
“为此”（For this ...）——意即“这成功的工作使作工的人成为他人嫉妒的对象”。也有人将这里的意思理解为“这工作乃是人与邻舍竞争的结果”。
英文原文
Every right work - Rather, every success in work.
For this ... - i. e., "This successful work makes the worker an object of envy." Some understand the meaning to be, "this work is the effect of the rivalry of man with his neighbor."
5
Ecclesiastes 4:5
简体中文
“抱着手”（Foldeth his hands）——这里嫉妒之人被描绘成懒惰人的姿态（参旁注相关经文）。
“吃自己的肉”（Eateth his own flesh）——意即“毁灭自己”：类似的表达可参 Isaiah 49:26；Psalm 27:2；Micah 3:3。
英文原文
Foldeth his hands - The envious man is here exhibited in the attitude of the sluggard (marginal references).
Eateth his own flesh - i. e., "Destroys himself:" compare a similar expression in Isaiah 49:26; Psalm 27:2; Micah 3:3.
6
Ecclesiastes 4:6
简体中文
这或是愚昧人对那成功却无安息之邻舍的讥讽，或是所罗门劝勉人以适度资财为足的评语。前一种含义似乎更为可取。
英文原文
Either the fool's sarcasm on his successful but restless neighbor; or the comment of Solomon recommending contentment with a moderate competence. The former meaning seems preferable.
7
Ecclesiastes 4:7
简体中文
这是一幅富足之人的图景：他因无兄弟、无儿女的孤寂，境况尽成虚空。
英文原文
The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation.
8
Ecclesiastes 4:8
简体中文
“第二人”（A second）——指任何与他相伴或有关联的人。
英文原文
A second - Any one associated or connected with him.
9
Ecclesiastes 4:9
简体中文
可将塔木德的一句格言拿来对照：“没有同伴的人，如同没有右手的左手。”
英文原文
Compare a saying from the Talmud: "A man without companions is like the left hand without the right."
13
Ecclesiastes 4:13
简体中文
这几节陈明属世昌盛即使登上王位也是虚空。对其应用的看法主要分为两派：或认为它们是比喻或虚构，如 Ecclesiastes 4:8 那无子之人的一幕；或认为它们先以两句箴言（Ecclesiastes 4:13-14）陈述王室生活的兴衰，再（Ecclesiastes 4:15-16）陈述全人类的更迭递嬗——一代让位于下一代，而那一代又将为其后继者所遗忘。总的说来，前一种看法似乎更有理由。
Ecclesiastes 4:13
“孩童”（Child）——更宜作“年轻人”。
英文原文
These verses set forth the vanity of earthly prosperity even on a throne. Opinion as to their application is chiefly divided between considering them a parable or fiction like that of the childless man in Ecclesiastes 4:8 : or as setting forth first the vicissitudes of royal life in two proverbial sayings Ecclesiastes 4:13-14, and then Ecclesiastes 4:15-16, the vicissitudes or procession of the whole human race, one generation giving place to another, Which in its turn will be forgotten by its successor. On the whole, the first appears to have the better claim.
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Child - Rather, young man.
14
Ecclesiastes 4:14
简体中文
更宜作：“因为他从为奴之家出来作了王，尽管他是在自己的国中，即他后来作王所统管的那国里，生来贫穷。”
英文原文
Rather: For out of the house of bondage he goes forth to be a king; although he was born poor in his kingdom, i. e., in the country over which he became king.
15
Ecclesiastes 4:15
简体中文
“我见……”（I considered ...）——按字面是“我看见了那少年人国中一切的居民”。
“那第二位少年人”（The second child）——这第二个少年通常被理解为与 Ecclesiastes 4:13 所提到的是同一位。
英文原文
I considered ... - literally, I saw "all the population of the young man's kingdom."
The second child - This second youth is generally understood to be identical with the one mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:13.
16
Ecclesiastes 4:16
简体中文
“有”（There is）——更宜作“曾有”。
“在他们以先的……”（That have been before them）——更宜作“他曾在他们面前”，即那少年王居他们之首、作他们的首领。参 Micah 2:13。
“后来的人……”（They also that ... him）——意即：下一代的人必将忘记这位蒙拣选的王。
英文原文
There is - Rather: There was.
That have been before them - Rather, before whom he was, i. e., at the head of whom the young king was. Compare Micah 2:13.
They also that ... him - i. e., The next generation shall forget this chosen king.
所罗门在 Ecclesiastes 3:22 对他 Ecclesiastes 1:3 的问题得着了部分的答案，即：在劳作所得的满足之中，有确实的益处（一分福分）。如今他转而考察这等幸福被种种偶然的事变打断、沦为虚空的情形——因欺压（Ecclesiastes 4:1-3），因嫉妒（Ecclesiastes 4:4-6），因孤单（Ecclesiastes 4:7-12），并因劳作能力的衰败（Ecclesiastes 4:13-16）。前两例似乎取自人生较低的阶层，后两例则得自较高的阶层。