我将这一切事放在心上，详细研究这些，就知道义人和智慧人，并他们的作为都在神手中；或是爱，或是恨，都在他们面前，但人不能知道。
For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
2凡临到众人的际遇都一样：义人和恶人，好人☛“好人”：七十士译本是“好人和坏人”。，洁净的人和不洁净的人，献祭的和不献祭的，都一样。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3在日光之下发生的一切事中有一件祸患，就是众人的际遇都一样，并且世人的心充满了恶；活着的时候心里狂妄，后来就归死人那里去了。This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4与一切活人相连的，那人还有指望，因为活着的狗胜过死了的狮子。For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5活着的人知道必死；死了的人毫无所知，也不再得赏赐，因为他们的名☛“名”：原文是“纪念”。已被遗忘。For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，早就消灭了。在日光之下所发生的一切事，他们永不再有份了。Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
7你只管欢欢喜喜吃你的饭，心中快乐喝你的酒，因为神已经悦纳你的作为。Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
8你的衣服要时时洁白，你头上也不要缺少膏油。Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9在你一生虚空的日子，就是神赐你在日光之下虚空☛七十士译本没有“虚空”。的日子，当与你所爱的妻快活度日，因为那是你一生中在日光之下劳碌所得的报偿。Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
10凡你手所当做的事，要尽力去做；因为在你所必须去的阴间没有工作，没有谋算，没有知识，也没有智慧。Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11我转而回顾日光之下，快跑的未必能赢，强壮的未必战胜，智慧的未必得粮食，聪明的未必得财富，有学问的未必得人喜悦，全在乎各人遇上的时候和机会。I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12人不知道自己的定期。鱼被险恶的网圈住，鸟被罗网捉住，祸患的时刻忽然临到，世人陷在其中也是如此。智慧胜过武力
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
13我见日光之下有一样智慧，在我看来是伟大的，This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
14就是有一人口稀少的小城，遇大君王前来攻击，修筑营垒，将城围困。There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
15城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16我就说，智慧胜过勇力；然而那贫穷人的智慧被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17宁可听智慧人安静的话语，不听掌权者在愚昧人中的喊声。The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18智慧胜过打仗的兵器；但一个罪人能败坏许多善事。Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.