960 英翻中 (660) The Ecclesiastes (十) 傳道書(十) 11/01/2025

960 英翻中 (660)              The Ecclesiastes (十)                        傳道書(十)                 11/01/2025                     

On the Highway (4:9–12)                                                                                                                          在超級公路上（4:9-12）                                                                                                                                    Solomon’s experience with the independent man caused him to consider the importance of friendship and the value of people doing things together. He may have recalled the Jewish proverb, “A friendless man is like a left hand bereft of the right.” Perhaps he watched some pilgrims on the highway and drew the conclusion, “Two are better than one.”                                                                                                所羅門與獨立人的經驗使他思考友誼的重要性以及人們一起做事的價值。他可能想起了猶太諺語：“一個沒有朋友的人就像失去了右手的左手。”也許他在高速公路上看到一些朝聖者並得出結論：“兩個比一個好。”                                                                                                                                    Two are certainly better than one when it comes to working (v. 9) because two workers can get more done. Even when they divide the profits, they still get a better return for their efforts than if they had worked alone. Also, it’s much easier to do difficult jobs together because one can be an encouragement to the other.                                                                                                                                   在工作方面，兩個人肯定比一個人更好（第 9 節），因為兩個工人可以完成更多的工作。即使他們分配了利潤，他們的努力仍然比單獨工作獲得更好的回報。此外，一起完成困難的工作會更容易，因為一個人可以鼓勵另一個人。                                                                                                Two are better when it comes to walking (v. 10). Roads and paths in Palestine were not paved or even leveled, and there were many hidden rocks in the fields. It was not uncommon for even the most experienced traveler to stumble and fall, perhaps break a bone, or even fall into a hidden pit (Ex. 21:33–34). How wonderful to have a friend who can help you up (or out). But if this applies to our physical falls, how much more does it apply to those times when we stumble in our spiritual walk and need restoration (Gal. 6:1–2)? How grateful we should be for Christian friends who help us walk straight.              兩個人走路比較好（10節）。巴勒斯坦的道路和小徑都沒有鋪好，甚至沒有平整，田野裡還有許多隱藏的岩石。即使是最有經驗的旅行者，絆倒、摔倒、可能骨折、甚至掉進隱藏的坑裡的情況並不罕見（出21:33-34）。有一個可以幫助您（或擺脫）的朋友真是太好了。但如果這適用於我們身體上的跌倒，那麼，它更適用於我們在靈性行走中跌倒並需要恢復的時候（加拉太書 6:1-2）嗎？我們應該多麼感激那些幫助我們走正路的基督徒朋友。                                                 Two are better than one when it comes to warmth (v. 11). Two travelers camping out, or even staying in the courtyard of a public inn, would feel the cold of the Palestinian night and need one another’s warmth for comfort. The only way to be “warm alone” is to carry extra blankets and add to your load.                                                                                                                                                              說到溫暖，兩個人比一個人好（11節）。兩個在外面露營的旅行者，甚至住在公共旅館的庭院裡，都會感受到巴勒斯坦夜晚的寒冷，需要彼此的溫暖來安慰。 「獨自溫暖」的唯一方法是攜帶額外的毯子並增加你的負擔。                                                                                                                Finally, two are better than one when it comes to their watchcare, especially at night (v. 12). “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves” (v. 12 niv). It was dangerous for anyone to travel alone, day or night; most people traveled in groups for fellowship and for safety. Even David was grateful for a friend who stepped in and saved the king’s life (2 Sam. 21:15–17).                            最後，在照顧方面，兩個人比一個人更好，尤其是在晚上（12節  新國際版）。 「一者雖能勝，二者能自衛」（12節）。無論白天或晚上，單獨旅行對任何人來說都是危險的。大多數人為了團契和安全而結伴旅行。就連大衛也感激有一位朋友介入並拯救了國王的生命（撒母耳記下 21：15-17）。                                                                                                                                                                    Solomon started with the number one (v. 8), then moved to two (v. 9), and then closed with three (v. 12). This is typical of Hebrew literature (Prov. 6:16; Amos 1:3, 6, 9, etc.). One cord could be broken easily; two cords would require more strength; but three cords woven together could not be easily broken. If two travelers are better than one, then three would fare even better. Solomon had more than numbers in mind; he was also thinking of the unity involved in three cords woven together—what a beautiful picture of friendship!                                                                                                                              所羅門從第一開始（第 8 節），然後轉到第二（第 9 節），最後以第三（第 12 節）結束。這是希伯來文學的典型特徵（箴 6:16；阿摩司書 1:3、6、9 等）。一條繩子很容易就斷了；兩條繩子需要更大的強度；但三根繩子編織在一起，不容易折斷。如果兩名旅客比一名旅客好，那麼三人的情況會更好。所羅門想到的不只是數字。他還想到了三根繩子編織在一起的團結——這是一幅多麼美麗的友誼圖畫！

In the Palace (4:13–16)                                                                                                                                在宮殿裡（4:13-16）                                                                                                                                  This is Solomon’s fourth “better” statement (4:3, 6, 9), introducing a story that teaches two truths: the instability of political power and the fickleness of popularity. The king in the story had at one time heeded his counselors’ advice and ruled wisely, but when he got old, he refused to listen to them. The problem was more than pride and senility. He was probably surrounded by a collection of “parasites” who flattered him, isolated him from reality, and took from him all they could get. This often happens to weak leaders who are more concerned about themselves than about their people.                                      這是所羅門的第四個「更好」的陳述（4:3,6,9），它介紹的故事教導了兩個真理：政治權力的不穩定和民眾的善變。故事中的國王曾經聽從謀士的建議，進行明智的統治，但當他年老時，他拒絕聽從他們的建議。問題不僅僅是驕傲和衰老。他周圍可能有一群“寄生蟲”，他們奉承他，使他脫離現實，並從他身上奪走他們所能得到的一切。這種情況經常發生在軟弱的領導者身上，他們更關心自己而不是人民。                                                                                                                    There is a hero in the story, a wise youth who is in prison. Perhaps he was there because he tried to help the king and the king resented it. Or maybe somebody in the court lied about the youth. (That’s what happened to Joseph. See Gen. 39.) At any rate, the youth got out of prison and became king. Everybody cheered the underdog and rejoiced that the nation at last had wise leadership.                                  故事裡有個英雄，一個被關在監獄裡的聰明青年。也許他在那裡是因為他試圖幫助國王，但國王對此感到不滿。或者法庭上有人對年輕人撒了謊。 （這就是發生在約瑟身上的事。參考創世記 39 章。）無論如何，這個年輕人出獄並成為了國王。每個人都為失敗者歡呼，並為國家終於有了英明的領導而高興。                                                                                                                            Consider now what this story says. The young man was born poor, but he became rich. The old king was rich, but it didn’t make him any wiser, so he might just as well have been poor. The young man was in prison, but he got out and took the throne. The old king was imprisoned in his stupidity (and within his circle of sycophants) and lost his throne. So far, the moral of the story is wealth and position are no guarantee of success, and poverty and seeming failure are no barriers to achievement. The key is wisdom.                                                                                                                                                                  現在考慮一下這個故事所說的內容。這個年輕人出身貧寒，但後來卻變得富有。老國王很富有，但這並沒有讓他變得更聰明，所以他不如一直貧窮。這個年輕人被關進監獄，但他出來並登上了王位。老國王因自己的愚蠢（以及他的諂媚圈）而被囚禁，並失去了王位。到目前為止，這個故事的寓意是財富和地位並不能保證成功，貧窮和看似失敗也不能成為成就的障礙。關鍵是智慧。                                                                                                                                                        But the story goes on. Apparently the young man got out of prison and took the throne because of popular demand. “I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him” [the old king] (v. 15 nasb). It looked like the new young king had it made, but alas, his popularity didn’t last. “He can become the leader of millions of people and be very popular. But, then, the younger generation grows up around him and rejects him!” (v. 16 tlb). The new crowd deposed the king and appointed somebody else.                                                                                                                      但故事還在繼續。顯然，這位年輕人因民眾的要求而出獄並登上了王位。 「我看見日光之下所有的活人都聚集到接替他的第二個少年的身邊」（老國王）（15節 新美國標準版）。看起來這位年輕的新國王已經成功了，但可惜的是，他的受歡迎程度並沒有持續太久。 「他可以成為數百萬人的領袖，並且很受歡迎。但後來，年輕一代在他身邊長大並排斥他！ （第 16 節 tlb 版）。新的人群廢黜了國王並任命了其他人。                                                                                                                            Oliver Cromwell, who took the British throne away from Charles I and established the Commonwealth, said to a friend, “Do not trust to the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you and I were going to be hanged.” Cromwell understood crowd psychology!                                                  從查理一世手中奪取英國王位並建立英聯邦的奧利弗·克倫威爾(Oliver Cromwell) 對一位朋友說：“不要相信歡呼聲，因為如果你和我要被絞死，那些人也會大聲喊叫。克倫威爾了解群眾心理！                                                                                                                                                                    Once again, Solomon drew the same conclusion: it is all “vanity and vexation of spirit” (see vv. 4, 8).                                                                                                                                                                          所羅門再次得出同樣的結論：這都是「虛空和心靈的煩惱」（見4、8節）。                                    No matter where Solomon went, no matter what aspect of life he studied, he learned an important lesson from the Lord. When he looked up, he saw that God was in control of life and balanced its varied experiences (3:1–8). When he looked within, he saw that man was made for eternity and that God would make all things beautiful in their time (3:9–14). When he looked ahead, he saw the last enemy, death. Then as he looked around (4:1–16), he understood that life is complex, difficult, and not easy to explain. One thing is sure: No matter where you look, you see trials and problems and people who could use some encouragement.                                                                                                                                      無論所羅門去往何處，無論他研究生活的哪個方面，他都從主那裡學到了重要的教訓。當他抬頭仰望時，他看到上帝掌管生命並平衡生命的各種經驗（3:1-8）。當他向內看時，他看到人被造是為了永恆，神會讓萬物各按其時成為美好（3:9-14）。當他向前看時，他看到了最後一個敵人，死亡。然後，當他環顧四周時（4:1-16），他明白生活是複雜、困難的，而且不容易解釋。有一點是肯定的：無論你往哪裡看，你都會看到考驗和問題，以及需要鼓勵的人。                        However, Solomon was not cynical about life. Nowhere does he tell us to get out of the race and retreat to some safe and comfortable corner of the world where nothing can bother us. Life does not stand still. Life comes at us full speed, without warning, and we must stand up and take it and, with God’s help, make the most of it.                                                                                                                             然而，所羅門對生活並不憤世嫉俗。他沒有任何地方告訴我們要退出比賽，撤退到世界上某個安全舒適的角落，那裡沒有什麼可以打擾我們。生活並不是靜止的。生命毫無預警地全速向我們襲來，我們必須站起來接受它，並在上帝的幫助下充分利用它。                                                     If this chapter teaches us anything, it is that we need one another because “two are better than one.” Yes, there are some advantages to an independent life, but there are also disadvantages, and we discover them painfully as we get older.                                                                                                                如果說這一章教會了我們什麼的話，那就是我們需要彼此，因為「兩個比一個更好」。是的，獨立生活有一些優點，但也有缺點，隨著年齡的增長，我們痛苦地發現它們。                                The chapter also emphasizes balance in life. “Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind” (v. 6 nkjv). It’s good to have the things that money can buy, provided you don’t lose the things that money can’t buy. What is it really costing you in terms of life to get the things that are important to you? How much of the permanent are you sacrificing to get your hands on the temporary?                                                                                                                                本章也強調生活的平衡。 「一手安靜，強如雙手滿滿，勞苦作工，抓風」（6節 新欽定版）。擁有金錢能買到的東西固然很好，但前提是你不要失去金錢買不到的東西。為了得到對你來說重要的東西，你在生活中真正付出了什麼代價？為了得到暫時的東西，你要犧牲多少永久的東西？                                                                                                                                                            Or, to quote the words of Jesus: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37)                           或者，引用耶穌的話：「人若賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有什麼益處呢？或者說，一個人應該用什麼來交換他的靈魂呢？ （可 8：36-37）