Ecclesiastes 6
传道书 第六章
我看见日光之下有一件憾事,重压在世人身上。
蒙上帝赐予财富、资产和荣誉的人,心里所愿的,都一无所缺,可是上帝使他无力享用,反而有外人来享用。这是虚空,也是祸患。
人如果生下百子,活了许多岁数,年日长久,但是心里不因美物满足,又得不到安葬,我以为流产的胎比他还好。
因为这胎虚虚而来,暗暗而去,黑暗把他的名字遮蔽了。
这胎既看不见天日,又一无所知,就比那人更得安息。
那人即使活了一千年,再活一千年,也享受不到什么;他们两者不是都归一个地方吗?
人的一切劳碌都为口腹,他的心却还是填不满。
智慧人比愚昧人有什么长处呢?穷人在众人面前知道怎样行事为人,又有什么长处呢?
眼睛看见的,胜过心中想望的。这也是虚空,也是捕风。
已经存在的,早已有了名称;大家都知道人是怎样的;人绝对无法与比自己强的抗辩。
因为话语增多,虚空也增多,这对人有什么益处呢?
在虚空、消逝如影的人生,短暂的日子里,有谁知道什么是对人有益处呢?谁能告诉人他死后在日光之下会发生什么事呢?
讨论问题:
每个人都在为了什么而工作,他们满意吗? 为什么?
在这一章中,那些积累了财富的人发生了什么?
金钱能买到幸福吗? 为什么?
根据传教士的说法,还有什么比那些无法享受财富的人更好的呢?
谁知道什么对一个人的一生有好处?
本章对你来说最有意义的是什么? 为什么?
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind:
God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man-
even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
Everyone's toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.
What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?
For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Discussion Questions:
What is everyone working for, are they satisfied? Why or why not?
In this chapter, what happened to those that accumulated wealth?
Can money buy happiness? Why or why not?
According to the preacher, what is better than those that cannot enjoy their wealth?
Who knows what is good for a person in life?
What is most meaningful to you in this chapter? Why?