1 Τοτε εγω εστραφην και ειδον πασας τας αδικιας τας γινομενας υπο τον ηλιον? και ιδου, δακρυα των αδικουμενων, και δεν υπηρχεν εις αυτους ο παρηγορων? η δε δυναμις ητο εν τη χειρι των αδικουντων αυτους? και δεν υπηρχεν εις αυτους ο παρηγορων. | 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. |
2 Οθεν εγω εμακαρισα τους τελευτησαντας, τους ηδη αποθανοντας, μαλλον παρα τους ζωντας, οσοι ζωσιν ετι. | 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. |
3 Καλητερος δε αμφοτερων ειναι, οστις δεν υπηρξεν ετι, οστις δεν ειδε τα πονηρα εργα τα γινομενα υπο τον ηλιον. | 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 Προσετι εγω εθεωρησα παντα μοχθον και πασαν επιτευξιν εργου, οτι δια τουτο ο ανθρωπος φθονειται υπο του πλησιον αυτου? και τουτο ματαιοτης και θλιψις πνευματος. | 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. |
5 Ο αφρων περιπλεκει τας χειρας αυτου και τρωγει την εαυτου σαρκα. | 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. |
6 Καλητερον μια δραξ πληρης αναπαυσεως παρα δυο πληρεις μοχθου και θλιψεως πνευματος. | 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. |
7 Παλιν εστραφην εγω και ειδον ματαιοτητα υπο τον ηλιον? | 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. |
8 υπαρχει τις και δεν εχει δευτερον? ναι, δεν εχει ουτε υιον ουτε αδελφον? και ομως δεν παυει απο παντος του μοχθου αυτου? μαλιστα ο οφθαλμος αυτου δεν χορταινει πλουτου? και δεν λεγει, δια τινα εγω κοπιαζω και στερω την ψυχην μου απο αγαθων; και τουτο ειναι ματαιοτης και περισπασμος λυπηρος. | 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. |
9 Καλητεροι οι δυο υπερ τον ενα? επειδη αυτοι εχουσι καλην αντιμισθιαν εν τω κοπω αυτων. | 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. |
10 Διοτι, εαν πεσωσιν, ο εις θελει σηκωσει τον συντροφον αυτου? αλλ' ουαι εις τον ενα, οστις πεση και δεν εχη δευτερον να σηκωση αυτον. | 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. |
11 Παλιν, εαν δυο πλαγιασωσιν ομου, τοτε θερμαινονται? ο εις ομως πως θελει θερμανθη; | 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? |
12 Και εαν τις υπερισχυση κατα του ενος, οι δυο θελουσιν αντισταθη εις αυτον? και το τριπλουν σχοινιον δεν κοπτεται ταχεως. | 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
13 Καλητερον πτωχον και σοφον παιδιον παρα βασιλευς γερων και αφρων, οστις δεν ειναι πλεον επιδεκτικος νουθεσιας? | 13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. |
14 διοτι το μεν εξερχεται εκ του οικου των δεσμιων δια να βασιλευση? ο δε και βασιλευς γεννηθεις καθισταται πενης. | 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. |
15 Ειδον παντας τους ζωντας τους περιπατουντας υπο τον ηλιον, μετα του υιου, του δευτερου, οστις θελει σταθη αντ' αυτου. | 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. |
16 Δεν υπαρχει τελος εις παντα τον λαον, εις παντας τους προυπαρξαντας αυτων? αλλ' ουδε οι μετα ταυτα θελουσιν ευφρανθη εις αυτον? λοιπον και τουτο ματαιοτης και θλιψις πνευματος. | 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. |