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 who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque judicavi qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
Yes, better is [he] than both they, who 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 labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. 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] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] toil 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; yes, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yes, it [is] a grievous labor.
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 up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him to rise.
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 prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold 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 who 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.
