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传道书生命读经 · 第2篇

虚空的虚空（二）

Vanity of Vanities (2)
1读经：传道书十二章十三至十四节。在本篇信息中，我们要继续来看著者的实验，然后再看他的考察和试验。
1Scripture Reading: Eccl. 12:13-14 In this message we will continue to consider the writer's experiments and then go on to see his searching and testing
６ 在接触神的事上
6. In Contacting God
2传道书五章一至七节描述著者在接触神的事上的实验。
2Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 describes the writer's experiment in contacting God
ａ以警告为观点
a. In the View of Caution
3这里所罗门的话不是以鼓励为观点，乃是以警告为观点。这与使徒保罗的观点不同，他鼓励信徒亲近神，为要受怜悯，得恩典，作应时的帮助。（来四16。）
3Solomon ' sword here is not in the view of encouragement but in the view of caution. This is different from the view of the apostle Paul in encouraging the believers to approach God for receiving mercy and finding grace for timely help (Heb. 4:16
ｂ我们到神的殿，要谨慎脚步
b. Guarding Our Steps When We Go to the House of God
4传道书五章一节上半警告我们到神的殿，要谨慎脚步。
4Ecclesiastes 5:1a cautions us to guard our steps when we go to the house of God
ｃ近前聆听
c. Drawing Near to Listen
5一节下半嘱咐我们近前聆听，胜过献愚昧人的祭；他们不知道所作的是恶。
5Verse 1b charges us to draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they are doing evil
ｄ不可冒失开口
d. Not Being Rash with Our Mouth
6我们在神面前不该冒失开口，也不可心急发言；因为神在天上，我们在地上。所以，我们的言语要寡少，不要像愚昧人言语多。（2～3。）
6We should not be rash with our mouth and not let our heart hastily utter anything before God, for God is in heaven and we are on the earth. Therefore, we should let our words be few, unlike the fool's multitude of words (vv. 2-3
ｅ不可迟延偿还向神许的愿
e. Not Delaying in Paying Our Vow to God
7四至六节告诉我们，不可迟延偿还向神许的愿。你许愿不还，不如不许。
7Verses 4 through 6 tell us not to delay in paying our vow to God. It is better that we not vow than that we vow and not pay
ｆ敬畏神
f. Fearing God
8七节说，「多梦和多言，其中也都是虚空；你只要敬畏神。」
8Verse 7 says, "For in the multitude of dreams and in many words are also vanities. Rather, fear God
７ 在各种例证上
7. In Sundry Illustrations
9五章八至十七节和六章一至十二节，说到虚空人生中不同之事的各种例证。
9In 5:8-17 and 6:1-12 we have sundry illustrations of various things in human life that are vanity.
ａ穷人受欺压，公正和公义遭剥夺
a. A Poor Man Being Oppressed under the Wresting of Justice and Righteousness
10在一省之中，虽有各级的官长留意，甚至有君王惯常作有益于国的事，但穷人受欺压，公正和公义遭剥夺。这乃是虚空。（五8～9。）ｂ贪爱银子的，并不知足贪爱银子，以及贪爱丰富和利益的，并不知足；富足人的丰满，却不容他睡觉。这也是虚空。（10～12。）
10In a province a poor man is oppressed under the wresting of justice and righteousness, although there are ranks of officials who should attend to this matter and even there is a king who is used to doing things for the advantage of the land. This is vanity (5:8-9). b. The Ones Who Love Silver Not Being Satisfied The ones who love silver and love abundance with income will not be satisfied, and the fullness of the rich will not let him sleep. This is also vanity (vv. 10-12
ｃ财主积存财富，反害自己
c. The Rich Man Keeping His Riches to His Hurt
11财主积存财富，反害自己，他因事业不顺，这些财富就丧失，没有甚么留给他儿子。他为风劳碌，终身在黑暗中吃喝，多有烦恼、病痛、愤懑。这是一大祸患，也是虚空。（13～17。）
11The rich man keeps his riches to his own hurt, and his riches are lost in a bad venture and nothing is left for his son. He has labored for the wind, eating in darkness and having much vexation and sickness and resentment. This is a grievous evil and is also vanity (vv. 13-17
ｄ重压在人身上的祸患
d. An Evil That Is Heavy upon Man
12照著六章一至二节，有一祸患重压在人身上，就是人蒙神赐他财富、资产、尊荣，只是神使他不能吃用，反有外人来吃用。这是虚空，也是祸患。
12According to 6:1-2 an evil that is heavy upon man concerns a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor. God does not empower him to eat of it, but a stranger eats it. This is vanity and an evil plague
ｅ心里不得满享福乐的人
e. A Man Whose Soul Is Not Filled with Good
13人若生一百个儿子，活许多岁数，心里却不得满享福乐，又未得适当的埋葬；产下的死胎比他还好。这也是虚空。（3～6。）
13A man begets a hundred children and lives many years, but his soul is not filled with good and he even does not get a proper burial. He is worse off than a stillborn. This is also vanity (vv. 3-6
ｆ人的劳碌都为口腹，魂里却不满足
f. Man Laboring for His Mouth, yet His Soul Not Being Filled
14人的劳碌都为口腹，魂里却不满足。智慧人比愚昧人有甚么长处？穷人在众人面前知道如何行，有甚么长处？这一切都是虚空，也是捕风。（7～9。）ｇ有许多事加增虚空在十二节著者问：「人一生虚度的有限日子，就如影儿经过；谁知道甚么与他有益？」有许多事加增虚空，这对人有甚么益处？（11。）
14Man labors for his mouth, yet his soul is not filled. What advantage, then, does the wise man have over the fool? And what advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to walk before the living? All these are vanity and a chasing after wind (vv. 7-9). g. There Being Many Things Which Will Increase Vanity In verse 12 the writer asks, " Who knows what is good for a man in life during the few days of his vain life, which he will spend as a shadow? " There are many things which will increase vanity. What is the advantage to man? (v. 11).
８ 所罗门鼓励堕落的人，享受神所赐给他们的
8. Solomon Encouraging the Fallen Men to Enjoy What God Has Given Them
15所罗门在他一切的实验中，按照神的经纶，鼓励在日光之下堕落的人，享受神所赐给他们的，使他们能存活，并给神机会完成祂拣选并豫定他们的永远定旨，以产生基督的身体，并维持神旧造中堕落的人，作神从祂的旧造中产生祂在基督里之新造的供备。（二24，三13，五18～20，八15，九7～10。）使徒保罗在行传十四章十五至十七节和十七章二十四至三十一节所传讲的话，证实了这点。
15In all his experiments Solomon encouraged, according to God'secon o my, the fallen men under the sun to enjoy what God has given to them that they may exist and afford God the opportunity to carry out His eternal purpose in choosing and predestinating them for the issue of the Body of Christ and to maintain the fallen man of God'sold creation to be the provision for God to bring in His new creation in Christ out of the old creation (2:24; 3:13; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10). This is proved by the apostle Paul'sp reaching in Acts 14:15-17 and 17:24-31
16这里我们该留意，我们要过一种见证基督，并供应基督给人，而荣耀神的生活，就需要物质的东西和肉身的事物。但我们不该受这些东西的吸引、抢夺和霸占。如果我们被这些东西霸占，我们就会受这些东西的虚空之苦。我们是生活在世上，经过这「浮华世界」，但我们不该流连其中，求其虚荣。今天一切旧造里的东西都在败坏的奴役之下。我们若不「逃离世上从情欲来的败坏」，（彼后一4，）就要有分于其虚空。
16Here we should note that for us to live a life that we may testify Christ and minister Christ to others to glorify God, we need the material things and physical matters. But we should not be attracted, captured, and usurped by them. If we are usurped by them, we will suffer their vanity. We are living in the world and passing through the "vanity fair," but we should not linger in it for its vainglory. Today all things of the old creation are under the slavery of corruption. If we do not escape "the corruption which is in the world by lust" (2 Pet. 1:4), we will share in its vanity
三 著者的考察和试验
C. The Writer's Searching and Testing
17传道书七章一节至十二章十二节是
17In 7:1—12:12 we have the writer's searching and testing
18著者的考察和试验。
18
１ 考察并试验堕落人生的一切事
1. Searching and Testing All Things of the Fallen Human Life
19著者考察并试验在日光之下堕落人生的一切事。（七23～29，八9，16，十二9～10。）
19The writer searched and tested all things of the fallen human life under the sun (7:23-29; 8:9, 16; 12:9-10
２ 凡事都是虚空的虚空
2. All Things Being Vanity of Vanities
20在日光之下的一切事，无论牵涉那一种人，智慧的或愚昧的，殷勤的或懒惰的，富足的或贫穷的，年老的或年轻的，居高位的或处低位的，行义的或作恶的，行善的或犯罪的，洁净的或不洁净的，无论他们出生如何，工作如何，死亡如何，结局如何，凡事都是虚空的虚空。（七6，15，
20All the things under the sun, regardless of the kind of persons involved, wise or foolish, diligent or lazy, rich or poor, old or young, high or low, righteous or wicked, good or sinful, clean or unclean, and regardless of how they were born, how they worked, how they died, and how their end was, all are vanity of vanities (7:6, 15; 8:10, 14; 9:9; 11:8, 10; 12:8
21八10，14，九9，十一8，10，十二8。）
213. Proverbs, Words of Wisdom, Being Produced
３箴言，就是智慧的话，乃是从著者考察并试验中所产生的
out of the Writer's Searching and Testing
22箴言，就是智慧的话，乃是从著者考察并试验中所产生的。（7:1-9,11-12,14-17;。）这些箴言对于建立一个人的性格，使其过较好的人生，乃是有益的，但这些箴言对于在神圣生命里的长大，以建造基督的身体，并没有作用。然而，要建造基督的身体，就需要有正确的性格，但不是凭自我的修养，乃是在基督十字架的工作下，凭那灵的膏抹，用基督丰富的成分建立的。（加五16，二20，腓一19～21。）
22Proverbs, words of wisdom, were produced out of the writer's searching and testing (7:1-9, 11-12, 14-17; 8:1b, 5b, 8; 9:4b, 7-12, 16-18; 10:1-2, 4b, 8-14a, 18-8:1b, 5b, 8; 9:4b, 7-12, 16-18; 10:1-2, 4b, 20; 11:1, 3-8; 12:11, 12b). All these proverbs are good 8-14a, 18-20; 11:1, 3-8; 12:11, 12b for building up the character of one who lives a better human life, but they do not have the function to afford the growth in the divine life for the building up of the Body of Christ. Yet, for the building up of the Body of Christ there is the need of a proper character, not by self-cultivation but by the Spirit's anointing under the work of the cross of Christ with the rich elements of Christ (Gal. 5:16; 2:20; Phil. 1:19-21).
４ 神对人是甚么
4. What God Is to Man
23著者考察并试验神对人是甚么。
23The writer searched and tested what God is to man
ａ神创造人
a. God Creating Man
24神创造了人，所以神是人的主宰。（传七29，十二1。）
24God created man, so God is the Sovereign over man (Eccl. 7:29; 12:1
ｂ一切关于人的事都在神手中
b. All Things concerning Man Being in the Hand of God
25一切关于人的事都在神手中，而神7:13-的作为是不可测度的。（九1，八17，七13～14，十一5。）
25All things concerning man are in the hand of God, and God is inscrutable in His doings (9:1; 8:17; 14; 11:5).
ｃ神必审判人的一切事
c. God Judging Man in Everything
26神必审判人的一切事。（三17，十一9，十二14，太十二36，罗二5，16，徒十七31，启二十11～13。）
26God will judge man in everything (3:17; 11:9; 12:14; Matt. 12:36; Rom. 2:5, 16; Acts 17:31; Rev. 20:11-13
ｄ神将人生的一分赐给人享受，使人得以生存
d. God Giving Man a Portion in Human Life for Him to Enjoy and Exist
27神将人生的一分赐给人享受，使人得以生存，让神有机会呼召出一些人，以完成祂永远的拣选和豫定，好成就祂永远的经纶。（传八15。）
27God gives man a portion in human life for him to enjoy and exist that God could have an opportunity to call out some for the carrying out of His eternal selection and predestination for the accomplishment of His eternal economy (Eccl. 8:15
５ 人对神应当是甚么
5. What Man Should Be to God
28著者也考察并试验人对神应当是甚么。
28The writer also searched and tested what man should be to God
ａ敬畏神
a. Fearing God
29人当敬畏神，好从神得著智慧，知道如何过人生，并且进一步认识神。（七18下，八12～13，十二13。）
29Man should fear God that he may gain the wisdom from God to know how to live the human life and to know God further (7:18b; 8:12-13; 12:13).
ｂ向神悔改
b. Repenting to God
30人从神所造美好的光景堕落到人自己的巧计里，（七29下，）并且有充满了恶的心，（九3，）没有一个是义的，是行善而不犯罪的，（七20，）他们该向神悔改，并接受神为人所豫备的救赎主。（伯十九25。）
30Man, being fallen from the God-created good condition into his schemes (7:29b) and having a heart full of evil (9:3), not one of whom is righteous, does good, and does not sin (7:20), should repent to God and receive the Redeemer whom God has prepared for him (Job 19:25
ｃ享受神的供备
c. Enjoying God'sPr o vision
31人该享受神为著人的生活和婚姻生活所给的供备，使人能生存并繁增，以遍满这地，（创一，）好叫神能彀在人中间救一些人，为要照神永远的经纶，产生召会－基督的身体－带进新耶路撒冷，作神永远的扩大和彰显。（传九7～10。）
31Man should enjoy God ' spr o vision for his living and the marriage life for man's existence and multiplication to replenish the earth (Gen. 1:28) that it may be possible for God to save some of them in 28 order to produce the church — the Body of Christ — which will issue in the New Jerusalem as God's eternal enlargement and expression according to God's eternal economy (Eccl. 9:7-10).
32著者以上有关实验、考察、和试验所揭示的各点，虽然包含在圣经里，但不该视为从神来的神圣启示。这些点乃是著者在实验里考察日光之下堕落人类的人生所得的结论。所有这些结论的话，都可视为箴言，就是智慧的话，指引堕落而失去目标的人，回转归向神，并照著神新约的经纶，在祂儿子里接受祂作他们的救赎主和生命，使他们得重生，成为神人，以完成神永远的经纶。
32The unveiling of the above points of the writer's experiments and searching and testing should not be considered the divine revelation from God, though they are included in the Scriptures. They are the conclusion of the writer's research in his experiments of the fallen men's human life under the sun. All the concluding words may be considered as proverbs, words of wisdom, directing the fallen and aim-missing men to return to God and receive Him according to His New Testament economy in His Son as their Redeemer and life that they may be regenerated to be the God-men for the accomplishment of God's eternal economy
６ 给少年人的劝告
6. Advice to Young Men
33在十一章九节至十二章一节，为著
33In 11:9—12:1 the writer gives advice to young men
34给少年人劝告。
34
ａ少年人在年轻时当尽量享受人生
a. Young Men Endeavoring to Enjoy the Human Life in Their Youth
35少年人在年轻时当在神审判的光中尽量享受人生，好从心中除掉愁烦，从肉体除去邪恶。（十一9～10。）
35Young men should endeavor to enjoy the human life in their youth in the light of God's judgment to remove vexation from their heart and put away evil from their flesh (11:9-10
ｂ趁著年幼，记念造他们的主
b. Remembering Their Creator While They Are Young
36少年人当趁著年幼，记念造他们的主，不要在这事上踌躇不决，等到年老。（十二1。）
36Young men should remember their Creator while they are young and not hesitate in this until old age comes (12:1
７ 人老年悲伤的描绘
7. The Sad Portrait of Man'sOld Age
37在十二章二至八节，著者给我们看见人老年悲伤的描绘。神所造之三光，与人所造人工之光的光明环境，变为昏暗，晴空美好的气氛也变为蒙眬。（2。）手（看守房屋的）发颤。（3上。）腰（有力的）弯曲。（3中。）牙齿稀少。（3下。）眼睛变得昏暗。（3末。）耳朵听声迟钝。（4上。）清早就起来。（4中。）声带变得低沉。（4下。）惧怕高处。（5上。）行路受惊吓。（5上。）头发变白。（5中。）无力负任何重担，甚至小如蚱蜢者。（5中。）没有医药能使他免死，吊丧的人来赴他的葬礼。（5下。）尸首－脊椎（银炼）、头颅（金罐）、胸肺（瓶子）、心脏（水轮）－朽烂。（6。）尘土所造的身体仍归于尘土，气息仍归于赐气息的神。（7，创二7。）这指明整个人和他的人生若离了神，就只是虚空的虚空。（传十二8。）
37In 12:2-8 the writer shows us the sad portrait of man'sold age. The bright environment with the three lights created by God and the artificial ones made by man becomes gloomy, and the pleasant atmosphere of the clear sky is cloudy (v. 2). The hands, the keepers of the house, tremble (v. 3a). The loins, the men of strength, are bent (v. 3b). The teeth become few (v. 3c), the eyes become dim (v. 3d), and the ears become dull to sound (v. 4a). One awakens early in the morning (v. 4b). The vocal cords become low (v. 4c). One is afraid of what is high (v. 5a) and is terrified in walking (v. 5b). The hair becomes white (v. 5c). One is unable to bear any burden, even any as small as a grasshopper (v. 5d). No medicine can keep the old man away from death, and mourners attend his funeral (v. 5e). The corpse—the spinal cord (the silver cord), the head (the golden bowl), the lungs (the pitcher), and the heart (the wheel)—decays (v. 6). The body made of dust returns to the earth, and the breath returns to God who gave it (v. 7; Gen. 2:7). This indicates that the entire human being with his human life apart from God is nothing but vanity of vanity (Eccl. 12:8).
四 结语
D. The Concluding Word
38十二章十三至十四节是著者的结语。
38In 12:13-14 we have the writer's concluding word
１ 著者的目的
1. The Writer'sIn tent i on
39著者的目的是要引导人敬畏神，使神最终能给他们看见祂新约的经纶，就是关于祂召会－基督身体－的产生，要终极完成为新耶路撒冷，作神永远的扩大和彰显。（13。）
39The writer'sin tent i on is to lead men to fear God that God may eventually show them His New Testament economy concerning the producing of His church, the Body of Christ, which consummates in the New Jerusalem as God's eternal enlargement and expression (v. 13
２ 神在今世并在白色大宝座前审判人
2. God Judging Men in This Age and at His Great White Throne
40神必在今世审问人所作的事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，都必审问；也要在祂白色大宝座前审判他们，决定他们永远的定命。（传
40God will judge men in this age for their deeds, even every secret thing, according to good or evil, and at His great white throne for their eternal destiny (v. 14; Rev. 20:11-15
41十二14，启二十11～15。）
41