1 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.

光天化日之下，我还目睹种种欺压：受压人的泪水与无助；势力总在强人一边。

2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.

我可以说，死了比活着快乐。

3 But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

不出世就更好，免得眼见这般天下恶事。

4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

我见一切努力和成就遭人嫉妒。这又是何必！

5 The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.

傻子踌躇满志，毁掉的是自己。

6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

一份安宁胜过两倍劳碌。空啊！

7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

我发现，这天底下的事甚是荒唐：

8 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!

有人鳏寡孤独，无亲无嗣，竟忙个没完，欲壑难填。他说：“我这样劳苦，剥夺自己的享乐，到底是为谁呢？”

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

两人比一人强，成果得以分享：

10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

有人仆倒，朋友搀扶。无人援助，这倒下的人甚是可怜！

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

抱团就可以取暖。单个人做不到。

12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

孤单容易被击溃；二人可以抵挡。三股绳难折断。

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.

出身贫寒但有智慧的青年，胜过老年痴呆又不肯纳谏的国王。

14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

青年人也许从社会最底层跃居王位，也许出生卑微。

15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.

我见世人都追随新人，也就是王位继承人。

16 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.

对广大百姓来说，这样的换届会没完没了。而继位的人没有一个对前任是满意的。没意思！还是空！