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 saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

2 我は猶生る生者よりも既に死たる死者をもて幸なりとす

and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

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

Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 我また諸の労苦と諸の工事の精巧とを観るに 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

And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

5 愚なる者は手を束ねてその身の肉を食ふ

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

6 片手に物を盈て平穏にあるは 兩手に物を盈て労苦て風を捕ふるに愈れり

Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness 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

So I returned, and 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 然るにその労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労するや何とて我は心を樂ませざるやと 是もまた空にして労力の苦き者なり

There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

9 二人は一人に愈る其はその労苦のために善報を得ればなり

Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour.

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 falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

11 又二人ともに寝れば温暖なり一人ならぼ爭で混暖ならんや

Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]

12 人もしその一人を攻撃ば二人してこれに當るべし 三根の繩は容易く断ざるなり

And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be 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 wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

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 he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become 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観たり

I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.

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 to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.