Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias, quæ sub sole geruntur, et lacrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem: nec posse resistere eorum violentiæ, cunctorum auxilio destitutos.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;
Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
3 yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
4 Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
unus est, et secundum non habet, non filium, non fratrem, et tamen laborare non cessat, nec satiantur oculi eius divitiis: nec recogitat, dicens: Cui laboro, et fraudo animam meam bonis? In hoc quoque vanitas est, et afflictio pessima.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm [alone]?
Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Infinitus numerus est populi omnium, qui fuerunt ante eum: et qui postea futuri sunt, non lætabuntur in eo. Sed et hoc, vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
