Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. 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.

   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,

2. 2

   And so, I praised the dead more than the living.

   et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes;

3. 3

   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.

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

4. 4

   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.

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

5. 5

   The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:

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

6. 6

   “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

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

7. 7

   While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.

   Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.

8. 8

   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.

   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.

9. 9

   Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

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

10. 10

    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.

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

11. 11

    And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

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

12. 12

    And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.

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

13. 13

    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.

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

14. 14

    For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.

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

15. 15

    I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.

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

16. 16

    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.

    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.

17. 17

    Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.

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

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)