智慧人的作爲（傳八）中英bilingual

人的智慧使他的臉發光、並使他臉上的暴氣改變。(傳 8：1b) 

「暴氣」在原文有「強橫」、「粗魯」的意思。智慧不只是只存在於大腦裡的知識，真正的智慧會滲透到人的情緒中。一個真正敬畏神的人，他的臉不再是硬梆梆的憤世嫉俗。智慧帶來的是情緒上的調節能力。智慧人看透了局勢，所以不需要用憤怒來防衛自己。智慧人的內在平安會化作臉上的溫潤光芒，智慧人的智慧，從改變臉色開始。 

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。(傳 8：5) 

聖經當中所提到的王在歷史背景下是絕對的權威。傳道者在這裡提醒我們，不要固執己意、不要輕易挑戰權威，而是要守命令。因為智慧人都能辨明時候和定理，像在一間公司或某種制度之內，智慧人不會衝動離職或對抗，而是等待最合適的時機去順勢而起。這是一種體制內的韌性，智慧人知道如何在有限的空間中尋找生存與發揮影響力的機會，而非進行無謂地犧牲。智慧人的處世策略，就是在體制權威中尋求時候與定理。 

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。(傳 8：8) 

傳道人提到了四個無人能掌管的部分：時機、將來、氣息、死期。就像一名戰士無法在戰場上請假（這場爭戰，無人能免），說出了人類最深層的無力感，人類的焦慮源於失去控制。傳道者在這裡提出了一個強力的檢驗，承認我們不是神，人只是人。當我們放下「我必須掌控一切」的妄想，承認身而為人的不足與軟弱，靈魂才能開始真正的安息。智慧人的自我覺察，就是會放下想要掌控未來的虛幻執念。 

因為斷定罪名、不立刻施刑、所以世人滿心作惡。(傳 8：11) 

這裡描述了一種社會上的現象「惡意的蔓延」。當法律或公義遲到甚至不到，人們就會失去對道德的敬畏。傳道者觀察到惡人甚至能風光地進出聖所、壽終正寢地好好被埋葬；而那行事正直的卻離開聖地、被人們忘記，這種不公不義的狀況令人在心理上造成了極大的不平衡。然而，傳道者隨後給出了定見：「我準知道，敬畏神的終久必得福樂。」這是不憑眼見的信心，而是相信神手中有一本每個人的帳本。智慧人的信心宣告，就是當公義缺席時，我依然準知道敬畏神的必蒙得福。 

我就稱讚快樂、原來人在日光之下、莫強如喫喝快樂．因為他在日光之下、　神賜他一生的年日、要從勞碌中、時常享受所得的。(傳 8：15) 

這不是今朝有酒今朝醉的逃避之舉，而是在看清「義人受惡報、惡人受義報」的荒謬後，所做出的一種屬靈選擇。既然我們用盡全力也無法查出神在日光之下所行的事，那麼最智慧的行為，就是享受神賜給我們的這份勞碌中的分。這是一種積極的態度，將最後一天當作每一天來生活，放棄去解釋生活當中每一個苦難的原因，轉而專注於當下的飯食、親情與勞作。智慧人的生活實踐，在不可參透的奧秘中，領受吃喝快樂的恩典。 

應當一無挂慮、只要凡事藉着禱告、祈求、和感謝、將你們所要的告訴　神。神所賜出人意外的平安、必在基督耶穌裏、保守你們的心懷意念。(腓 4：6-7)

By 陳詠聖

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

The Deeds of the Wise (Ecclesiastes 8)

“A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.”  

(Ecclesiastes 8:1b, NASB2020)  

The word “stern” in the original carries the sense of “harsh” or “rough.” Wisdom is not merely knowledge stored in the brain; true wisdom fills one’s emotions. A person who truly fears God no longer wears a rigid, cynical face. Wisdom brings emotional regulation. The wise see through circumstances, so they do not need anger as self-defense. Inner peace becomes a gentle radiance on their face. The transformation of countenance is where wisdom begins to show.  

“One who keeps a royal command will experience no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.”  

(Ecclesiastes 8:5, NASB2020)  

In biblical times, the king represented absolute authority. The Preacher reminds us not to be stubborn or rashly challenge authority, but to keep the command. For the wise discern both time and procedure. In a company or system, the wise do not impulsively resign or rebel, but wait for the right moment to rise with the tide. This is resilience within the system: knowing how to find opportunities for survival and influence in limited space, rather than making needless sacrifices. The wise person’s strategy is to seek time and procedure within authority.  

“No one has authority over the wind to restrain the wind, nor authority over the day of death; and no one is discharged in time of war, and wickedness will not save those who practice it.”  

(Ecclesiastes 8:8, NASB2020)  

The Preacher points out four things no one can control: timing, the future, breath, and death. Just as a soldier cannot request leave from battle (“no one is discharged in time of war”), this expresses humanity’s deepest helplessness. Our anxiety stems from lost control. The Preacher offers a powerful test: admit that we are not God, we are only human. When we let go of the illusion “I must control everything,” and acknowledge our weakness, the soul begins to rest. The wise person’s self-awareness is to release the futile thoughts with controlling the future.  

“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of mankind among them are fully given to do evil.”  

(Ecclesiastes 8:11, NASB2020)  

Here is described a social phenomenon: "the spread of malice". When justice is delayed or absent, people lose reverence for morality. The Preacher observes that the wicked may even enter the sanctuary with honor, die peacefully, and be buried properly; while the upright are driven away from the holy place and forgotten. Such injustice causes deep imbalance in the heart. Yet the Preacher declares: “I know that it will go well for those who fear God.” This is faith not based on sight, but on trust that God holds the account book of every life. The wise person’s declaration of faith is: when justice seems absent, I still know that those who fear God will be blessed.  

“So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be cheerful; and this will stand by him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.”  

(Ecclesiastes 8:15, NASB2020)  

This is not escapism—“eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”—but a spiritual choice after seeing the absurdity that “the righteous receive what the wicked deserve, and the wicked receive what the righteous deserve.” Since we cannot understand all that God does under the sun, the wisest act is to enjoy the portion God has given in our toil. It is a positive attitude: to live each day as if it were the last, to cease explaining every suffering, and instead focus on meals, family, and labor. The wise person’s practice of life is to receive the grace of eating, drinking, and joy amid deep mysteries.  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  

(Philippians 4:6–7, NASB2020)  

By Chen Yongsheng