Ecclesiastes 4
1 Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias, quae sub sole geruntur, et lacrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem: nec posse resistere eorum violentiae, cunctorum auxilio destitutos.
Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
2 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt.
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiae proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
Again, I saw futility 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 a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suae:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. vae soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 Et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit praevidere in posterum.
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14 Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
16 Infinitus numerus est populi omnium, qui fuerunt ante eum: et qui postea futuri sunt, non laetabuntur in eo. sed et hoc, vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
