Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have 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 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
3 and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.
et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
4 Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
5 The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
6 Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
8 Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
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 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:
10 For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —
Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
16 There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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.
