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 turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.
2 et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes
Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago 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
Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which 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
And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and 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 hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
7 considerans repperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole
Then I turned and saw other 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 no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!
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 his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and 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 an enemy prevail against one, 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 child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, 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 cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
15 vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adulescente secundo qui consurgit pro eo
I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood 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 to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
