Ecclesiastes 4
1 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.
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.
2 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:
Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
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.
4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.
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.
5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:
Then I returned and 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 afflictio pessima.
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.
9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
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.
11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
If a man prevails against one who is alone, 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 prævidere in posterum.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14 Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
16 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.
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.
