서론
Ecclesiastes 4 Introduction
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
我又轉念，觀看——更好譯作「我轉回，又觀看」。他轉而注視其他現象，並以它們檢驗自己先前的結論。
受欺壓的——見傳道書引言。
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
一切的功夫——更好譯作：工作中的一切成就。
這是為……——意即「這成功的工程使作工的人成為被嫉妒的對象」。也有人理解為「這工程出於人與鄰舍的競爭」。
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
抱著手——嫉妒的人在這裡被描繪成懶惰人的姿態（見旁註）。
吃自己的肉——意即「毀滅自己」：比較以賽亞書 49:26；詩篇 27:2；彌迦書 3:3 類似的說法。
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
這或是愚昧人對那成功卻不得安息之鄰舍的譏諷，或是所羅門勸人安於小康的評語。前一種意思似乎更可取。
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
這裡展現一幅景象：一個亨通的人，卻因無兄弟、無兒女的孤寂，使他的境況淪為虛空。
英文原文
The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation.
8
Ecclesiastes 4:8
第二個人——指任何與他結伴或相關的人。
英文原文
A second - Any one associated or connected with him.
9
Ecclesiastes 4:9
試比較《他勒目》的一句格言：「沒有同伴的人，如同沒有右手的左手。」
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
這幾節陳明屬世昌盛即使登上王座也是虛空。對其應用的見解主要分為兩派：或視之為比喻或虛構，如傳道書 4:8 那無子之人的一段；或視之為先以兩句箴言（傳道書 4:13-14）陳明王權生涯的興替，再（傳道書 4:15-16）陳明全人類的更迭——一代讓位給一代，而那一代又將被其後繼者遺忘。整體而論，前一見解似更有理。
傳道書 4:13
少年人——更好譯作：年輕人。
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
更好譯作：因為他從為奴之家出來作了王；儘管他在他的國中——即他後來作王統治的那地——生而貧窮。
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
我看見……——按字面是「我看見那年輕人國中的眾民」。
第二位——這第二個年輕人，一般理解為與傳道書 4:13 所提的是同一人。
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
有——更好譯作：曾有。
在他們之前……的——更好譯作：他從前在他們面前，即那年輕的王作他們的頭。比較彌迦書 2:13。
後來的人……他——指下一世代必忘記這位蒙揀選的王。
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.
所羅門在 Ecclesiastes 3:22 對他 Ecclesiastes 1:3 的問題得了局部的答案，就是：在勞作所得的滿足之中，有確實的益處（一分福分）。如今他轉而察看這等幸福被各樣偶然的事故打斷、淪為虛空的情形——因欺壓（Ecclesiastes 4:1-3），因嫉妒（Ecclesiastes 4:4-6），因孤單（Ecclesiastes 4:7-12），並因勞作能力的衰敗（Ecclesiastes 4:13-16）。前兩例似乎取自人生較低的階層，後兩例則得自較高的階層。