Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Again I considered all the oppressions that take place under the sun: the tears of the victims with none to comfort them! From the hand of their oppressors comes violence, and there is none to comfort them!	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.
2 And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive.	2 And I praised the dead rather than the living:
3 And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun.	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 Then I saw that all toil and skillful work is the rivalry of one man for another. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.	4 Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
5 "The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh"--	5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
6 Better is one handful with tranquility than two with toil and a chase after wind!	6 Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
7 Again I found this vanity under the sun:	7 Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
8 a solitary man with no companion; with neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and riches do not satisfy his greed. "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things?" This also is vanity and a worthless task.	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.
9 Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor.	9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
10 If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up.	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.
11 So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm?	11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
12 Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.	12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;	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.
14 for from a prison house one comes forth to rule, since even in his royalty he was poor at birth.	14 Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
15 Then I saw all those who are to live and move about under the sun with the heir apparent who will succeed to his place.	15 I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
16 There is no end to all these people, to all over whom he takes precedence; yet the later generations will not applaud him. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.	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.
17 Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Let your approach be obedience, rather than the fools' offering of sacrifice; for they know not how to keep from doing evil.	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.