8:5 凡遵守命令的,必不經歷禍患;智慧人的心能辨明時候和定理(原文是審判;下節同)。
8:6 各樣事務成就都有時候和定理,因為人的苦難重壓在他身上。
8:7 他不知道將來的事,因為將來如何,誰能告訴他呢?
8:8 無人有權力掌管生命,將生命留住;也無人有權力掌管死期;這場爭戰,無人能免;邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。
8:9 這一切我都見過,也專心查考日光之下所做的一切事。有時這人管轄那人,令人受害。
8:6 各樣事務成就都有時候和定理,因為人的苦難重壓在他身上。
8:7 他不知道將來的事,因為將來如何,誰能告訴他呢?
8:8 無人有權力掌管生命,將生命留住;也無人有權力掌管死期;這場爭戰,無人能免;邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。
8:9 這一切我都見過,也專心查考日光之下所做的一切事。有時這人管轄那人,令人受害。
6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
so[a] no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
so[a] no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the
sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own[b] hurt.
10 Then too, I saw the
wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive
praise[c] in the city where they did this. This too
is meaningless.
****************
傳道者在這裡說到王雖然有權勢和能力,但是並無法與上帝所訂定的時候和定理來抵抗,因為上帝才是真正的權柄和能力所在!正如傳道者所說:「他不知道將來的事,因為將來如何,誰能告訴他呢?無人有權力掌管生命,將生命留住;也無人有權力掌管死期;這場爭戰,無人能免;邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。」
也因為如此,人要承認自己的極限,即使是人間的君王再有權柄與能力,也無法和上帝相爭,更是要服在上帝的權柄和大能之下,無法勝過上帝所界定的事情,如生命和四季的變化,以及天災和人禍。所以,君王在上帝面前要謙卑!
有權勢的君王都如此了,更何況我們是一介草民!我們更不可以群眾和政治的力量來抗拒上帝,因為人再多或再厲害,都是無法超越上帝的!