ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΗΣ - Qoelet - Ecclesiastes 4

GREEK BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
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 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 Οθεν εγω εμακαρισα τους τελευτησαντας, τους ηδη αποθανοντας, μαλλον παρα τους ζωντας, οσοι ζωσιν ετι.	2 And I praised the dead rather than the living:
3 Καλητερος δε αμφοτερων ειναι, οστις δεν υπηρξεν ετι, οστις δεν ειδε τα πονηρα εργα τα γινομενα 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 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 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 περιπλεκει τας χειρας αυτου και τρωγει την εαυτου σαρκα.	5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
6 Καλητερον μια δραξ πληρης αναπαυσεως παρα δυο πληρεις μοχθου και θλιψεως πνευματος.	6 Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
7 Παλιν εστραφην εγω και ειδον ματαιοτητα υπο τον ηλιον?	7 Considering I found also another 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 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 Καλητεροι οι δυο υπερ τον ενα? επειδη αυτοι εχουσι καλην αντιμισθιαν εν τω κοπω αυτων.	9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
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 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 Παλιν, εαν δυο πλαγιασωσιν ομου, τοτε θερμαινονται? ο εις ομως πως θελει θερμανθη;	11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
12 Και εαν τις υπερισχυση κατα του ενος, οι δυο θελουσιν αντισταθη εις αυτον? και το τριπλουν σχοινιον δεν κοπτεται ταχεως.	12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13 Καλητερον πτωχον και σοφον παιδιον παρα βασιλευς γερων και αφρων, οστις δεν ειναι πλεον επιδεκτικος νουθεσιας?	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 διοτι το μεν εξερχεται εκ του οικου των δεσμιων δια να βασιλευση? ο δε και βασιλευς γεννηθεις καθισταται 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 παντας τους ζωντας τους περιπατουντας υπο τον ηλιον, μετα του υιου, του δευτερου, οστις θελει σταθη 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 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 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 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.