Liber Ecclesiastes, 4

1. Verti me ad alia et vidi calumnias, quae sub sole geruntur, et ecce lacrimae oppressorum, et nemo consolator; et ex parte opprimentium violentia, et nemo consolator.

1. Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.

2. Et laudavi magis mortuos, qui iam defuncti sunt, quam viventes, qui adhuc vitam agunt,

2. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive;

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

3. but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4. Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores et omnem successum operis, et hoc esse zelum in proximum suum. Et in hoc ergo vanitas et afflictio spiritus.

4. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5. Stultus complicat manus suas et comedit carnes suas.

5. The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh.

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

6. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7. Iterum repperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole:

7. Again, I 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 occupatio pessima.

8. a person who has no one, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

9. Melius est duos esse simul quam unum: habent enim emolumentum in labore suo,

9. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10. quia si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Vae soli! Cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.

10. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

11. Insuper, si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo; unus quomodo calefiet?

11. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone?

12. Et, si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum, duo resistent ei. Et fu niculus triplex non cito rumpitur.

12. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13. Melior est puer pauper et sapiens rege sene et stulto, qui iam nescit erudiri.

13. Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who will no longer take advice,

14. Ille enim de domo carceris exivit, ut regnaret, etiamsi in regno istius natus sit pauper.

14. even though he had gone from prison to the throne or in his own kingdom had been born poor.

15. Vidi cunctos viventes, qui ambulant sub sole, cum adulescente illo secundo, qui consurgebat pro eo. 16 Infinitus numerus erat populi, omnium, quos ipse praecedebat; sed qui postea futuri sunt, non laetabuntur in eo. Et hoc vanitas et afflictio spiritus.

15. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, as well as that youth, who was to stand in his place;

16.

16. there was no end of all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

17. Custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei, nam accedere, ut audias, melius est quam cum stulti offerunt victimas: multo enim melior est oboedientia quam stultorum victimae, qui nesciunt se malum facere.

17.