Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias, quæ sub sole geruntur, et lacrymas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem: nec posse resistere eorum violentiæ, cunctorum auxilio destitutos.
2 and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
3 Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
4 And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
8 There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
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 afflictio pessima.
9 Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour.
Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]
Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
12 And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Infinitus numerus est populi omnium, qui fuerunt ante eum: et qui postea futuri sunt, non lætabuntur in eo. sed et hoc, vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
