ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΗΣ - Qoelet - Ecclesiastes 4

LXX	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 και επεστρεψα εγω και ειδον συν πασας τας συκοφαντιας τας γινομενας υπο τον ηλιον και ιδου δακρυον των συκοφαντουμενων και ουκ εστιν αυτοις παρακαλων και απο χειρος συκοφαντουντων αυτους ισχυς και ουκ εστιν αυτοις παρακαλων	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 και επηνεσα εγω συν τους τεθνηκοτας τους ηδη αποθανοντας υπερ τους ζωντας οσοι αυτοι ζωσιν εως του νυν	2 And I praised the dead rather than the living:
3 και αγαθος υπερ τους δυο τουτους οστις ουπω εγενετο ος ουκ ειδεν συν το ποιημα το πονηρον το πεποιημενον υπο τον ηλιον	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 και ειδον εγω συν παντα τον μοχθον και συν πασαν ανδρειαν του ποιηματος οτι αυτο ζηλος ανδρος απο του εταιρου αυτου και γε τουτο ματαιοτης και προαιρεσις πνευματος	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 ο αφρων περιελαβεν τας χειρας αυτου και εφαγεν τας σαρκας αυτου	5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
6 αγαθον πληρωμα δρακος αναπαυσεως υπερ πληρωμα δυο δρακων μοχθου και προαιρεσεως πνευματος	6 Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
7 και επεστρεψα εγω και ειδον ματαιοτητα υπο τον ηλιον	7 Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
8 εστιν εις και ουκ εστιν δευτερος και γε υιος και αδελφος ουκ εστιν αυτω και ουκ εστιν περασμος τω παντι μοχθω αυτου και γε οφθαλμος αυτου ουκ εμπιπλαται πλουτου και τινι εγω μοχθω και στερισκω την ψυχην μου απο αγαθωσυνης και γε τουτο ματαιοτης και περισπασμος πονηρος εστιν	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 αγαθοι οι δυο υπερ τον ενα οις εστιν αυτοις μισθος αγαθος εν μοχθω αυτων	9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
10 οτι εαν πεσωσιν ο εις εγερει τον μετοχον αυτου και ουαι αυτω τω ενι οταν πεση και μη η δευτερος του εγειραι αυτον	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 και γε εαν κοιμηθωσιν δυο και θερμη αυτοις και ο εις πως θερμανθη	11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
12 και εαν επικραταιωθη ο εις οι δυο στησονται κατεναντι αυτου και το σπαρτιον το εντριτον ου ταχεως απορραγησεται	12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13 αγαθος παις πενης και σοφος υπερ βασιλεα πρεσβυτερον και αφρονα ος ουκ εγνω του προσεχειν ετι	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 οτι εξ οικου των δεσμιων εξελευσεται του βασιλευσαι οτι και γε εν βασιλεια αυτου εγεννηθη πενης	14 Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
15 ειδον συν παντας τους ζωντας τους περιπατουντας υπο τον ηλιον μετα του νεανισκου του δευτερου ος στησεται αντ' αυτου	15 I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
16 ουκ εστιν περασμος τω παντι λαω τοις πασιν οσοι εγενοντο εμπροσθεν αυτων και γε οι εσχατοι ουκ ευφρανθησονται εν αυτω οτι και γε τουτο ματαιοτης και προαιρεσις πνευματος	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 φυλαξον ποδα σου εν ω εαν πορευη εις οικον του θεου και εγγυς του ακουειν υπερ δομα των αφρονων θυσια σου οτι ουκ εισιν ειδοτες του ποιησαι κακον	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.