传9:1 我留心这一切事，并加以阐明：就是义人、智慧人和他们所作的，都在 神手里。临到他们的一切，无论是爱是恨，人都不领悟。
传9:1 All this I took to heart, and my heart saw it all: that the upright and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; and men may not be certain if it will be love or hate; all is to no purpose before them.
传9:2 众人的命运都是一样的：义人与恶人、好人与坏人、洁净的与不洁净的、献祭的与不献祭的，所遭遇的都是一样的；好人怎样，罪人也怎样；起誓的怎样，怕起誓的也怎样。
传9:2 Because to all there is one event, to the upright man and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him who makes an offering and to him who makes no offering; as is the good so is the sinner; he who takes an oath is as he who has fear of it.
传9:3 在日光之下所发生的一切事，有一件令人遗憾的，就是众人的命运都是一样的，并且世人的心充满邪恶，一生心怀狂妄，后来都归到死人那里去。
传9:3 This is evil in all things which are done under the sun: that there is one fate for all, and the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; while they have life their hearts are foolish, and after that--to the dead.
传9:4 凡有生命的（“凡有生命的”原文作“凡与所有活人有关联的”），就有盼望，因为活狗比死狮更好。
传9:4 For him who is joined to all the living there is hope; a living dog is better than a dead lion.
传9:5 活人还知道自己必死，死人却一无所知，而且再得不到酬劳，他们也被遗忘。
传9:5 The living are conscious that death will come to them, but the dead are not conscious of anything, and they no longer have a reward, because there is no memory of them.
传9:6 他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒，都早已消失了，在日光之下所发生的一切事，永远也没有他们的分了。
传9:6 Their love and their hate and their envy are now ended; and they have no longer a part for ever in anything which is done under the sun.
传9:7 你只管快快乐乐地去吃你的饭，怀着高兴的心去喝你的酒，因为 神已经悦纳了你所作的。
传9:7 Come, take your bread with joy, and your wine with a glad heart. God has taken pleasure in your works.
传9:8 你当经常穿着白色的衣袍，头上也不要缺少膏油。
传9:8 Let your clothing be white at all times, and let not your head be without oil.
传9:9 在你一生虚空的年日中，就是 神在日光之下赐你虚空的年日中，你要和你所爱的妻子享受人生，因为那是你一生在日光之下从劳碌中所得的分。
传9:9 Have joy with the woman of your love all the days of your foolish life which he gives you under the sun. Because that is your part in life and in your work which you do under the sun.
传9:10 凡是你手可作的，都当尽力去作；因为在你所要去的阴间里，既没有工作，又没有筹谋；没有知识，也没有智能。
传9:10 Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going.
传9:11 我又看见在日光之下，跑得快的未必得奖，勇士未必战胜，智慧的未必得粮食，精明的未必致富，博学的未必得人赏识，因为时机和际遇左右众人。
传9:11 And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.
传9:12 原来人并不知道自己的时机，正像鱼被恶网圈住，鸟被网罗捉住，险恶的时机忽然临到世人身上的时候，世人也照样陷在其中。
传9:12 Even man has no knowledge of his time; like fishes taken in an evil net, or like birds taken by deceit, are the sons of men taken in an evil time when it comes suddenly on them.
传9:13 在日光之下，我又看见一样智慧，觉得很有意义：
传9:13 This again I have seen under the sun as wisdom and it seemed great to me.
传9:14 有一座小城，人数不多；有一个大君王来进攻，把它包围，建造巨大的高垒攻城。
传9:14 There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it.
传9:15 城里有一个贫穷但有智慧的人，用他的智慧救了那城。然而，却没有人记念那穷人。
传9:15 Now there was in the town a poor, wise man, and he, by his wisdom, kept the town safe. But no one had any memory of that same poor man.
传9:16 于是我说：“智慧胜过武力”，但是那个穷人的智慧被藐视，他的话也没有人听从。
传9:16 Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.
传9:17 听智慧人安安静静说出来的话，胜过听管理愚昧者的人的喊叫。
传9:17 The words of the wise which come quietly to the ear are noted more than the cry of a ruler among the foolish.
传9:18 智慧胜于战斗的武器，但一个罪人能破坏许多好事。
传9:18 Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.