Ecclesiastes 4
1 Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias, quæ sub sole geruntur, et lacrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem: nec posse resistere eorum violentiæ, cunctorum auxilio destitutos.
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 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit.
7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 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.
There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.
9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:
Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
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 up.
11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 Infinitus numerus est populi omnium, qui fuerunt ante eum: et qui postea futuri sunt, non lætabuntur in eo. Sed et hoc, vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
[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.
