Книга Екклезиаста 4
1 И обратихся аз и видех вся оклеветания бывающая под солнцем: и се, слезы оклеветанных, и несть им утешающаго, и от руки клевещущих на ня крепость, и несть им утешающаго.
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 И похвалих аз всех умерших, иже умроша уже, паче живых, елицы живи суть доселе:
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 и благ паче обоих сих, иже еще не бысть, иже не виде всякаго сотворения лукаваго сотвореннаго под солнцем.
And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
4 И видех аз весь труд и всяко мужество сотворения, яко сие ревность мужа от подруга своего. И сие суета и произволение духа.
Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 Безумный объят руце свои и снеде плоти своя.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Благо есть исполнение горсти покоя, паче исполнения двою горстию труда и произволения духа.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 И обратихся аз и видех суетство под солнцем:
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 есть един, и несть втораго, ни сына, ниже брата несть ему, и несть конца всему труду его, ниже око его насыщается богатства. И кому аз труждаюся и лишаю душу мою от благостыни? И сие суета и попечение лукавно есть.
He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Блази два паче единаго, имже есть мзда блага в труде их:
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 яко аще падется един от них, воздвигнет другий причастника своего: и горе тому единому, егда падет и не будет втораго воздвигнути его.
If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 И аще уснета два, тепло има будет, а един како согреется?
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 И аще укрепится един, два станета противу ему: и вервь треплетена не скоро расторгнется.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Благ отрок нищь и мудр, паче стара царя и безумна, иже не разуме внимати еще:
Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 яко из дому юзников изыдет царствовати, понеже и в царстве своем родися нищь.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 Видех всех живущих, ходящих под солнцем, с юным вторым, иже востанет вместо его.
I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
16 Несть конца всем людем, всем, иже пред ними быша, ибо последнии не возвеселятся о нем: яко и сие суета и произволение духа.
The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
