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
But 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 that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt
but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath 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
Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 stultus conplicat 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 adflictione animi
Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving 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 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 is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous 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 labour.
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 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 praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent 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 providere in posterum
Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not 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 forth to be king; although 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 that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
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 whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
