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 обратихся аз и видех вся оклеветания бывающая под солнцем: и се, слезы оклеветанных, и несть им утешающаго, и от руки клевещущих на ня крепость, и несть им утешающаго.
2 [So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.
И похвалих аз всех умерших, иже умроша уже, паче живых, елицы живи суть 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.
и благ паче обоих сих, иже еще не бысть, иже не виде всякаго сотворения лукаваго сотвореннаго 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.
И видех аз весь труд и всяко мужество сотворения, яко сие ревность мужа от подруга своего. И сие суета и произволение духа.
5 Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.
Безумный объят руце свои и снеде плоти своя.
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.”
Благо есть исполнение горсти покоя, паче исполнения двою горстию труда и произволения духа.
7 I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
И обратихся аз и видех суетство 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.
есть един, и несть втораго, ни сына, ниже брата несть ему, и несть конца всему труду его, ниже око его насыщается богатства. И кому аз труждаюся и лишаю душу мою от благостыни? И сие суета и попечение лукавно есть.
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.
Блази два паче единаго, имже есть мзда блага 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.
яко аще падется един от них, воздвигнет другий причастника своего: и горе тому единому, егда падет и не будет втораго воздвигнути 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.
И аще уснета два, тепло има будет, а един како согреется?
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 аще укрепится един, два станета противу ему: и вервь треплетена не скоро расторгнется.
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.
Благ отрок нищь и мудр, паче стара царя и безумна, иже не разуме внимати еще:
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.
яко из дому юзников изыдет царствовати, понеже и в царстве своем родися нищь.
15 But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.
Видех всех живущих, ходящих под солнцем, с юным вторым, иже востанет вместо его.
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.
Несть конца всем людем, всем, иже пред ними быша, ибо последнии не возвеселятся о нем: яко и сие суета и произволение духа.
