Ecclesiastes 4
1 I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY]. I saw the tears of people who were (oppressed/treated cruelly) and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.
И обратился я и увидел всякие угнетения, какие делаются под солнцем: и вот слезы угнетенных, а утешителя у них нет; и в руке угнетающих их - сила, а утешителя у них нет.
2 [So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.
И ублажил я мертвых, которые давно умерли, более живых, которые живут доселе;
3 And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, [because] those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the earth.
а блаженнее их обоих тот, кто еще не существовал, кто не видал злых дел, какие делаются под солнцем.
4 I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, [and I concluded that] this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, [like] chasing the wind.
Видел я также, что всякий труд и всякий успех в делах производят взаимную между людьми зависть. И это - суета и томление духа!;
5 Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.
Глупый сидит, сложив свои руки, и съедает плоть свою.
6 [So I say], “It is better to be content with not having much money, than to work very hard and try to get a lot of money, which is [as useless as] chasing the wind.”
Лучше горсть с покоем, нежели пригоршни с трудом и томлением духа.
7 I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
И обратился я и увидел еще суету под солнцем;
8 There are men who live alone; they do not have a wife or children or any brothers living with them; every day they work [very hard], without stopping, to get a lot of money, but they are never satisfied with the things that they have. They never ask [themselves], “Why am I working very hard to earn more money? Why am I not doing things that would cause me to be happy?” What they do also seems senseless.
человек одинокий, и другого нет; ни сына, ни брата нет у него; а всем трудам его нет конца, и глаз его не насыщается богатством. “Для кого же я тружусь и лишаю душу мою блага?” И это - суета и недоброе дело!
9 Having someone [work] with you is better than being by yourself [all the time]. If you have a friend, he can help you to do your work.
Двоим лучше, нежели одному; потому что у них есть доброе вознаграждение в труде их:
10 If you fall down, he can help you get up again. But if you fall down when you are alone, it will be difficult for you, because there will be no one to help you stand up.
ибо если упадет один, то другой поднимет товарища своего. Но горе одному, когда упадет, а другого нет, который поднял бы его.
11 Similarly, if two people sleep together, they can keep each other warm. But someone who sleeps alone will certainly not [RHQ] be warm.
Также, если лежат двое, то тепло им; а одному как согреться?
12 Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person, but two people can help each other and (resist/defend themselves against) someone who attacks them. [Three people can defend themselves even more easily], [like] a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break [than a rope made from two cords].
И если станет преодолевать кто-либо одного, то двое устоят против него: и нитка, втрое скрученная, нескоро порвется.
13 A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good advice.
Лучше бедный, но умный юноша, нежели старый, но неразумный царь, который не умеет принимать советы;
14 It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.
ибо тот из темницы выйдет на царство, хотя родился в царстве своем бедным.
15 But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.
Видел я всех живущих, которые ходят под солнцем, с этим другим юношею, который займет место того.
16 Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, [too]. So it is all senseless, [like] chasing after the wind.
Не было числа всему народу, который был перед ним, хотя позднейшие не порадуются им. И это - суета и томление духа!
