DRC, VulgClementine, KJV - Ecclesiastes - 4

4:1  I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.

4:1  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,

4:1  So 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.

4:2  And I praised the dead rather than the living:

4:2  et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes ;

4:2  Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

4:3  And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.

4:3  et feliciorem utroque judicavi qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.

4:3  Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4:4  Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

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

4:4  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

4:5  The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

4:5  Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens :

4:5  The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

4:6  Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.

4:6  Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.

4:6  Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

4:7  Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:

4:7  Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.

4:7  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

4:8  There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

4:8  Unus 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.

4:8  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

4:9  It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:

4:9  Melius est ergo duos esse simul quam unum ; habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ.

4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

4:10  If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.

4:10  Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.

4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

4:11  And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?

4:11  Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo ; unus quomodo calefiet ?

4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

4:12  And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

4:12  Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei ; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.

4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

4:13  Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

4:13  Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.

4:13  Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

4:14  Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.

4:14  Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum ; et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.

4:14  For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

4:15  I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.

4:15  Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.

4:15  I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

4:16  The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

4:16  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.

4:16  There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

4:17  Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, who know not what evil they do.

4:17  Custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei, et appropinqua ut audias. Multo enim melior est obedientia quam stultorum victimæ, qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali.