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
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 which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt
Yea, better [is he] than both they, which 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 travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit.
7 considerans repperi 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 eius divitiis nec recogitat dicens cui laboro et fraudo animam meam bonis in hoc quoque vanitas est et adflictio pessima
There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.
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; for [he hath] not another to help him up.
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 praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent ei funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur
And if one prevail against him, 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 a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 quod et 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 adulescente secundo qui consurgit pro eo
I considered all the living which 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 laetabuntur in eo sed et hoc vanitas et adflictio 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.
