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,
Then I returned and saw 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 than them both [did I esteem] him 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.
Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a 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 an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
7 Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.
Then I returned and 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 that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is 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, and hath not another to lift him up.
11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo; unus quomodo calefiet?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, 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 wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14 Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum; et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that 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 of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
