Qoelet (جامعة) 4

SMITH VAN DYKE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 ثم رجعت ورأيت كل المظالم التي تجرى تحت الشمس فهوذا دموع المظلومين ولا معزّ لهم ومن يد ظالميهم قهر. اما هم فلا معزّ لهم.	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.
2 فغبطت انا الاموات الذين قد ماتوا منذ زمان اكثر من الاحياء الذين هم عائشون بعد	2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 وخير من كليهما الذي لم يولد بعد الذي لم ير العمل الرديء الذي عمل تحت الشمس	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.
4 ورأيت كل التعب وكل فلاح عمل انه حسد الانسان من قريبه. وهذا ايضا باطل وقبض الريح.	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.
5 الكسلان ياكل لحمه وهو طاو يديه.	5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 حفنة راحة خير من حفنتي تعب وقبض الريح	6 “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 ثم عدت ورأيت باطلا تحت الشمس.	7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 يوجد واحد ولا ثاني له وليس له ابن ولا اخ ولا نهاية لكل تعبه ولا تشبع عينه من الغنى. فلمن اتعب انا واحرم نفسي الخير. هذا ايضا باطل وامر رديء هو.	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.
9 اثنان خير من واحد لان لهما اجرة لتعبهما صالحة.	9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 لانه ان وقع احدهما يقيمه رفيقه. وويل لمن هو وحده ان وقع اذ ليس ثان ليقيمه.	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.
11 ايضا ان اضطجع اثنان يكون لهما دفء. اما الوحد فكيف يدفأ.	11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 وان غلب احد على الواحد يقف مقابله الاثنان والخيط المثلوث لا ينقطع سريعا	12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 ولد فقير وحكيم خير من ملك شيخ جاهل الذي لا يعرف ان يحذر بعد.	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.
14 لانه من السجن خرج الى الملك والمولود ملكا قد يفتقر.	14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 رأيت كل الاحياء السائرين تحت الشمس مع الولد الثاني الذي يقوم عوضا عنه.	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.
16 لا نهاية لكل الشعب لكل الذين كان امامهم. ايضا المتأخرون لا يفرحون به. فهذا ايضا باطل وقبض الريح	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.
	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.