Ecclesiastes 4
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1[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,
1But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
2et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes;
2Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3et feliciorem utroque judicavi qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
3but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi; et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est.
4Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens:
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.
6Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
7Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8Unus 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.]
8There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
9[Melius est ergo duos esse simul quam unum; habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
11Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo; unus quomodo calefiet?
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
12Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
12And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum; et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
14For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
15Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
16Infinitus numerus est populi omnium qui fuerunt ante eum, et qui postea futuri sunt non lætabuntur in eo; sed et hoc vanitas et afflictio spiritus.]
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
17[Custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei, et appropinqua ut audias. Multo enim melior est obedientia quam stultorum victimæ, qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali.]
no verse 17 in this text
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