Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and considered 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, quae sub sole geruntur, et lacrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem: nec posse resistere eorum violentiae, cunctorum auxilio destitutos.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
3 Yes, better is [he] than both they, who 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 quae sub sole fiunt.
4 Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiae 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] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] toil and vexation of spirit.
Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
8 There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yes, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yes, it [is] a grievous labor.
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 labor.
Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suae:
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him to rise.
si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. vae soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
12 And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.
Et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better [is] a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit praevidere in posterum.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
16 [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
Infinitus numerus est populi omnium, qui fuerunt ante eum: et qui postea futuri sunt, non laetabuntur in eo. sed et hoc, vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
