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.
I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY]. I saw the tears of people who were (oppressed/treated cruelly) and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.
2 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
[So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt.
And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, [because] those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the earth.
4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiae proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, [and I concluded that] this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, [like] chasing the wind.
5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.
6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
[So I say], “It is better to be content with not having much money, than to work very hard and try to get a lot of money, which is [as useless as] chasing the wind.”
7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
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 are men who live alone; they do not have a wife or children or any brothers living with them; every day they work [very hard], without stopping, to get a lot of money, but they are never satisfied with the things that they have. They never ask [themselves], “Why am I working very hard to earn more money? Why am I not doing things that would cause me to be happy?” What they do also seems senseless.
9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suae:
Having someone [work] with you is better than being by yourself [all the time]. If you have a friend, he can help you to do your work.
10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. vae soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
If you fall down, he can help you get up again. But if you fall down when you are alone, it will be difficult for you, because there will be no one to help you stand up.
11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
Similarly, if two people sleep together, they can keep each other warm. But someone who sleeps alone will certainly not [RHQ] be warm.
12 Et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person, but two people can help each other and (resist/defend themselves against) someone who attacks them. [Three people can defend themselves even more easily], [like] a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break [than a rope made from two cords].
13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit praevidere in posterum.
A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good advice.
14 Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.
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.
Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, [too]. So it is all senseless, [like] chasing after the wind.
