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.
Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.
2 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which 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.
And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
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 a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
Then I turned and saw other 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 who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!
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 labor.
10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and 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 an enemy prevail against one, 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 child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, 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 cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood 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 was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
