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 again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
2 et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes
So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt
and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was 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 saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
5 stultus conplicat manus suas et comedit carnes suas dicens
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
6 melior est pugillus cum requie quam plena utraque manus cum labore et adflictione animi
Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
7 considerans repperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing 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
Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
9 melius ergo est duos simul esse quam unum habent enim emolumentum societatis suae
Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
10 si unus ceciderit ab altero fulcietur vae soli quia cum ruerit non habet sublevantem
For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
11 et si dormierint duo fovebuntur mutuo unus quomodo calefiet
Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
12 et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent ei funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur
And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
13 melior est puer pauper et sapiens rege sene et stulto qui nescit providere in posterum
Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
14 quod et de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum et alius natus in regno inopia consumatur
For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
15 vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adulescente secundo qui consurgit pro eo
I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —
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, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
