Ecclesiastes 4
传道书 第四章
我又看见日光之下所发生一切欺压的事：受欺压的流泪，却无人安慰他们；欺压他们的，手里握着权柄，因此无人安慰受欺压的。
我赞叹那已死的人，胜过那还活着的人。
那还没生下来的，就是还没看过日光之下所行的恶事的，比这两种人更有福。
我看见各样的劳碌和各样精巧的工作，都是出于人与人彼此的竞争。这也是虚空，也是捕风。
愚昧人抱着手，吃自己的肉。
一掌盛满安宁，胜过两手抓满劳碌捕风。
我又看到日光之下有一件虚空的事。
有人孤单无依，没有儿子，没有兄弟，仍劳碌不休，眼目也不以自己的财富为足。他问：“我劳劳碌碌，刻薄自己不去享受，是为谁呢？”这也是虚空，是劳苦的担子。
二人胜过一人，因为他们一起的劳碌有美好的酬报。
如果一个跌倒，另一个可以把他的同伴扶起来。但一人孤身跌倒，没有别人把他扶起来，他就悲惨了。
还有，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人独睡，怎能暖和呢？
有人能制伏孤身一人，如果有二人就挡得住他。三股合成的绳子，不容易扯断。
贫穷但有智慧的年轻人，胜过年老不再纳谏的愚昧王。
虽然他是从监狱出来，在自己的国中，又是出身贫寒，却起来作王。
我看见所有在日光之下行走的活人，都随从那取代老王的年轻人。
所有的人民，就是他所统治的人民，多得无数；然而后来的人却不喜欢他。这实在也是虚空，也是捕风。
讨论问题：
你最感兴趣的是哪一节经文，为什么？
用这句话告诉我们你的想法：“一掌盛满安宁，胜过两手抓满劳碌捕风。”
为什么两个比一个好？ 请提供您个人经历的例子。
请解释这句话：“贫穷但有智慧的年轻人，胜过年老不再纳谏的愚昧王。”
有智慧就好吗？ 这一章是谁写的？ 作者从哪里得到这种智慧呢？
本章中对您最有意义或最有帮助的是什么？ 为什么？
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Discussion Questions:
1. What verse is most interesting to you, why?
2. Tell us your thoughts with this quote: “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.”
3. Why is two better than one? Please provide an example from your personal experience.
4. Please explain this quote: “Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.”
5. Is it good to have wisdom? Who wrote this chapter? Where did the writer get this wisdom?
6. What is most meaningful or helpful to you in this chapter? Why?