Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumnias quæ sub sole geruntur, et lacrimas innocentium, et neminem consolatorem, nec posse resistere eorum violentiæ, cunctorum auxilio destitutos,
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes;
3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
et feliciorem utroque judicavi qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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 ruins himself.
Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.
8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
Unus est, et secundum non habet, non filium, non fratrem, et tamen laborare non cessat, nec satiantur oculi ejus 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, because they have a good reward for their labor.
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 who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo; unus quomodo calefiet?
12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum; et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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.
