Ecclesiastes 4

1 verti me ad alia et vidi calumnias quae sub sole geruntur et lacrimas innocentum et consolatorem neminem nec posse resistere eorum violentiae cunctorum auxilio destitutos

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 rursum contemplatus omnes labores hominum et industrias animadverti patere invidiae proximi et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5 stultus conplicat manus suas et comedit carnes suas dicens

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6 melior est pugillus cum requie quam plena utraque manus cum labore et adflictione animi

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

7 considerans repperi 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 eius divitiis nec recogitat dicens cui laboro et fraudo animam meam bonis in hoc quoque vanitas est et adflictio pessima

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

9 melius ergo est duos simul esse quam unum habent enim emolumentum societatis suae

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 si unus ceciderit ab altero fulcietur vae soli quia cum ruerit non habet sublevantem

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and does not have 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 keep warm alone?

12 et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent ei funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur

If a man prevails against one who 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 providere in posterum

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who does not know how to receive admonition any more.

14 quod et de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum et alius natus in regno inopia consumatur

For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15 vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adulescente secundo qui consurgit pro eo

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded 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 adflictio spiritus

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.