伝道者の書 4
1 茲に我身を轉して日の下に行はるる諸の虐遇を視たり 嗚呼虐げらる者の涙ながる 之を慰むる者あらざるなり また虐ぐる者の手には權力あり 彼等はこれを慰むる者あらざるなり
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.
2 我は猶生る生者よりも旣に死たる死者をもて幸なりとす
Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 またこの二者よりも幸なるは未だ世にあらずして日の下におこなはるる惡事を見ざる者なり
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.
4 我また諸の勞苦と諸の工事の精巧とを觀るに 是は人のたがひに嫉みあひて成せる者たるなり 是も空にして風を捕ふるが如し
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.
5 愚なる者は手を束ねてその身の肉を食ふ
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 片手に物を盈て平穩にあるは 兩手に物を盈て勞苦て風を捕ふるに愈れり
Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] toil and vexation of spirit.
7 我また身をめぐらし日の下に空なる事のあるを見たり
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 茲に人あり只獨にして伴侶もなく子もなく兄弟もなし 然るにその勞苦は都て窮なくの目は富に飽ことなし 彼また言ず嗚呼我は誰がために勞するや何とて我は心を樂ませざるやと 是もまた空にして勞力の苦き者なり
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.
9 二人は一人に愈る其はその勞苦のために善報を得ればなり
Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 即ちその跌倒る時には一箇の人その伴侶を扶けおこすべし 然ど孤身にして跌倒る者は憐なるかな之を扶けおこす者なきなり
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.
11 又二人ともに寝れば温暖なり一人ならば爭で温暖ならんや
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 人もしその一人を攻撃ば二人してこれに當るべし 三根の繩は容易く斷ざるなり
And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.
13 貧くして賢き童子は 老て愚にして諌を納れざる王に愈る
Better [is] a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 彼は牢獄より出て王となれり 然どその國に生れし時は貧かりき
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 我日の下にあゆむところの群生が彼王に続てこれに代りて立ところの童子とともにあるを觀たり
I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 民はすべて際限なし その前にありし者みな然り 後にきたる者また彼を悦ばず 是も空にして風を捕ふるがごとし
[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.
