Ecclesiastes 4
1 Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias quæ sub sole geruntur, et lacrimas 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 judicavi 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 ejus 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.
