Ecclesiastes 4
1 Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. And behold, the tears of oppressed people, and they had no one to comfort them! Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them!
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 considered those who are already dead more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.
И похвалих аз всех умерших, иже умроша уже, паче живых, елицы живи суть доселе:
3 However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived, the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are done under the sun.
и благ паче обоих сих, иже еще не бысть, иже не виде всякаго сотворения лукаваго сотвореннаго под солнцем.
4 Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd 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 The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.
Безумный объят руце свои и снеде плоти своя.
6 But better is a handful of profit with quiet work than two handfuls with the work that tries to shepherd the wind.
Благо есть исполнение горсти покоя, паче исполнения двою горстию труда и произволения духа.
7 Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor under the sun.
И обратихся аз и видех суетство под солнцем:
8 There is the kind of man who is alone. He does not have anyone, no son or brother. There is no end to all his work, and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth. He wonders, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vapor, a bad situation.
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 Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay for their labor.
Блази два паче единаго, имже есть мзда блага в труде их:
10 For if one falls, the other can lift up his friend. However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls if there is no one to lift him up.
яко аще падется един от них, воздвигнет другий причастника своего: и горе тому единому, егда падет и не будет втораго воздвигнути его.
11 If two lie down together, they can be warm, but how can one be warm alone?
И аще уснета два, тепло има будет, а един како согреется?
12 One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.
И аще укрепится един, два станета противу ему: и вервь треплетена не скоро расторгнется.
13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.
Благ отрок нищь и мудр, паче стара царя и безумна, иже не разуме внимати еще:
14 This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.
яко из дому юзников изыдет царствовати, понеже и в царстве своем родися нищь.
15 I saw everyone who was alive and was walking around under the sun, along with a youth who was to rise up to take his place.
Видех всех живущих, ходящих под солнцем, с юным вторым, иже востанет вместо его.
16 There is no end to all the people who want to obey the new king, but later many of them will no longer praise him. Surely this situation is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
Несть конца всем людем, всем, иже пред ними быша, ибо последнии не возвеселятся о нем: яко и сие суета и произволение духа.
