Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 4

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	VULGATA
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.	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,
2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive;	2 et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes ;
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.	3 et feliciorem utroque judicavi qui necdum natus est, nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.
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.	4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi ; et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est.
5 The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh.	5 Stultus complicat manus suas, et comedit carnes suas, dicens :
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.	6 Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun:	7 Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.
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.	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.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.	9 Melius est ergo duos esse simul quam unum ; habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ.
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.	10 Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur. Væ soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.
11 Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone?	11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo ; unus quomodo calefiet ?
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.	12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum, duo resistunt ei ; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who will no longer take advice,	13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.
14 even though he had gone from prison to the throne or in his own kingdom had been born poor.	14 Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum ; et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.
15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, as well as that youth, who was to stand in his place;	15 Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.
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.	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.
	17 Custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei, et appropinqua ut audias. Multo enim melior est obedientia quam stultorum victimæ, qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali.