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.

So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.

2 Et laudavi magis mortuos, quam viventes:

Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.

3 et feliciorem utroque iudicavi, qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.

And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.

4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi: et in hoc ergo vanitas, et cura superflua est.

Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:

The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.

6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore, et afflictione animi.

Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.

7 Considerans reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:

Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.

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 alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.

9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul, quam unum: habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ:

Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.

10 si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. væ soli: quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.

For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.

11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo: unus quomodo calefiet?

Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?

12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei: funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.

And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.

13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.

Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.

14 Quod de carcere, catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum: et alius natus in regno, inopia consumatur.

For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.

15 Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.

I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.

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 is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.