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.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 И похвалих аз всех умерших, иже умроша уже, паче живых, елицы живи суть доселе:
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 и благ паче обоих сих, иже еще не бысть, иже не виде всякаго сотворения лукаваго сотвореннаго под солнцем.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 И видех аз весь труд и всяко мужество сотворения, яко сие ревность мужа от подруга своего. И сие суета и произволение духа.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 Безумный объят руце свои и снеде плоти своя.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Благо есть исполнение горсти покоя, паче исполнения двою горстию труда и произволения духа.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 И обратихся аз и видех суетство под солнцем:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
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.
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Блази два паче единаго, имже есть мзда блага в труде их:
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
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 of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 И аще уснета два, тепло има будет, а един како согреется?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 И аще укрепится един, два станета противу ему: и вервь треплетена не скоро расторгнется.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Благ отрок нищь и мудр, паче стара царя и безумна, иже не разуме внимати еще:
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 яко из дому юзников изыдет царствовати, понеже и в царстве своем родися нищь.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Видех всех живущих, ходящих под солнцем, с юным вторым, иже востанет вместо его.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 Несть конца всем людем, всем, иже пред ними быша, ибо последнии не возвеселятся о нем: яко и сие суета и произволение духа.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
