Ecclesiastes 4
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.
茲に我身を轉して日の下に行はるる諸の虐遇を視たり 嗚呼虐げらる者の涙ながる 之を慰むる者あらざるなり また虐ぐる者の手には權力あり 彼等はこれを慰むる者あらざるなり
2 And I praised the dead rather than the living:
我は猶生る生者よりも既に死たる死者をもて幸なりとす
3 And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.
またこの二者よりも幸なるは未だ世にあらずして日の下におこなはるる惡事を見ざる者なり
4 Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
我また諸の労苦と諸の工事の精巧とを観るに 是は人のたがひに嫉みあひて成せる者たるなり 是も空にして風を捕ふるが如し
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
愚なる者は手を束ねてその身の肉を食ふ
6 Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
片手に物を盈て平穏にあるは 兩手に物を盈て労苦て風を捕ふるに愈れり
7 Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
我また身をめぐらし日の下に空なる事のあるを見たり
8 There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
茲に人あり只獨にして伴侶もなく子もなく兄弟もなし 然るにその労苦は都て窮なくの目は富に飽ことなし 彼また言ず嗚呼我は誰がために労するや何とて我は心を樂ませざるやと 是もまた空にして労力の苦き者なり
9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
二人は一人に愈る其はその労苦のために善報を得ればなり
10 If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.
即ちその跌倒る時には一箇の人その伴侶を扶けおこすべし 然ど孤身にして跌倒る者は憐なるかな之を扶けおこす者なきなり
11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
又二人ともに寝れば温暖なり一人ならぼ爭で混暖ならんや
12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
人もしその一人を攻撃ば二人してこれに當るべし 三根の繩は容易く断ざるなり
13 Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.
貧くして賢き童子は 老て愚にして諌を納れざる王に愈る
14 Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
彼は牢獄より出て王となれり 然どその國に生れし時は貧かりき
15 I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
我日の下にあゆむところの群生が彼王に続てこれに代りて立ところの童子とともにあるを観たり
16 The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
民はすべて際限なし その前にありし者みな然り 後にきたる者また彼を悦ばず 是も空にして風を捕ふるがごとし
