Ecclesiastes 4

KJV

1  So I⁵⁸⁹ returned,⁷⁷²⁵ and considered^{7200 853} all³⁶⁰⁵ the oppressions⁶²¹⁷ that⁸³⁴ are done⁶²¹³ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun:⁸¹²¹ and behold²⁰⁰⁹ the tears¹⁸³² of such as were oppressed,⁶²¹⁷ and they had no³⁶⁹ comforter;⁵¹⁶² and on the side^{4480 3027} of their oppressors⁶²³¹ there was power;³⁵⁸¹ but they had no³⁶⁹ comforter.⁵¹⁶²

2  Wherefore I⁵⁸⁹ praised^{7623 853} the dead⁴¹⁹¹ which are already^{7945 3528} dead⁴¹⁹¹ more than⁴⁴⁸⁰ the living²⁴¹⁶ which^{834 1992} are yet⁵⁷²⁸ alive.²⁴¹⁶

3  Yea, better²⁸⁹⁶ is he than both^{4480 8147} they, ⁸⁵³ which⁸³⁴ hath not³⁸⁰⁸ yet⁵⁷²⁸ been,¹⁹⁶¹ who⁸³⁴ hath not³⁸⁰⁸ seen^{7200 853} the evil⁷⁴⁵¹ work⁴⁶³⁹ that⁸³⁴ is done⁶²¹³ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun.⁸¹²¹

4  Again, I⁵⁸⁹ considered^{7200 853} all³⁶⁰⁵ travail,⁵⁹⁹⁹ and every³⁶⁰⁵ right³⁷⁸⁸ work,⁴⁶³⁹ that³⁵⁸⁸ for this¹⁹³¹ a man³⁷⁶ is envied⁷⁰⁶⁸ of his neighbor.^{4480 7453} This²⁰⁸⁸ is also¹⁵⁷¹ vanity¹⁸⁹² and vexation⁷⁴⁶⁹ of spirit.⁷³⁰⁷

5  The fool³⁶⁸⁴ foldeth his hands together,^{2263 853 3027} and eateth^{398 853} his own flesh.¹³²⁰

6  Better²⁸⁹⁶ is a handful^{4480 4393 3709} with quietness,⁵¹⁸³ than both the hands²⁶⁵¹ full^{4480 4393} with travail⁵⁹⁹⁹ and vexation⁷⁴⁶⁹ of spirit.⁷³⁰⁷

7  Then I⁵⁸⁹ returned,⁷⁷²⁵ and I saw⁷²⁰⁰ vanity¹⁸⁹² under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun.⁸¹²¹

8  There is³⁴²⁶ one²⁵⁹ alone, and there is not³⁶⁹ a second;⁸¹⁴⁵ yea,¹⁵⁷¹ he hath neither³⁶⁹ child¹¹²¹ nor brother:²⁵¹ yet is there no³⁶⁹ end⁷⁰⁹³ of all³⁶⁰⁵ his labor;⁵⁹⁹⁹ neither³⁸⁰⁸ is his eye⁵⁸⁶⁹ satisfied⁷⁶⁴⁶ with riches;⁶²³⁹ neither saith he, For whom⁴³¹⁰ do I⁵⁸⁹ labor,⁶⁰⁰¹ and bereave^{2637 853} my soul⁵³¹⁵ of good?^{4480 2896} This²⁰⁸⁸ is also¹⁵⁷¹ vanity,¹⁸⁹² yea, it¹⁹³¹ is a sore⁷⁴⁵¹ travail.⁶⁰⁴⁵

9  Two⁸¹⁴⁷ are better²⁸⁹⁶ than⁴⁴⁸⁰ one;²⁵⁹ because⁸³⁴ they have³⁴²⁶ a good²⁸⁹⁶ reward⁷⁹³⁹ for their labor.⁵⁹⁹⁹

10  For³⁵⁸⁸ if⁵¹⁸ they fall,⁵³⁰⁷ the one²⁵⁹ will lift up^{6965 853} his fellow:²²⁷⁰ but woe³³⁷ to him that is alone²⁵⁹ when he falleth;^{7945 5307} for he hath not³⁶⁹ another⁸¹⁴⁵ to help him up.⁶⁹⁶⁵

11  Again,¹⁵⁷¹ if⁵¹⁸ two⁸¹⁴⁷ lie together,⁷⁹⁰¹ then they have heat:²⁵⁵² but how³⁴⁹ can one²⁵⁹ be warm³¹⁷⁹ alone?

12  And if⁵¹⁸ one²⁵⁹ prevail against⁸⁶³⁰ him, two⁸¹⁴⁷ shall withstand^{5975 5048} him; and a threefold⁸⁰²⁷ cord²³³⁹ is not³⁸⁰⁸ quickly⁴¹²⁰ broken.⁵⁴²³

13  Better²⁸⁹⁶ is a poor⁴⁵⁴² and a wise²⁴⁵⁰ child³²⁰⁶ than an old²²⁰⁵ and foolish³⁶⁸⁴ king,^{4480 4428} who⁸³⁴ will³⁰⁴⁵ no³⁸⁰⁸ more⁵⁷⁵⁰ be admonished.²⁰⁹⁴

14  For³⁵⁸⁸ out of prison^{4480 1004 631} he cometh³³¹⁸ to reign;⁴⁴²⁷ whereas³⁵⁸⁸ also¹⁵⁷¹ he that is born³²⁰⁵ in his kingdom⁴⁴³⁸ becometh poor.⁷³²⁶

15  I considered^{7200 853} all³⁶⁰⁵ the living²⁴¹⁶ which walk¹⁹⁸⁰ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun,⁸¹²¹ with⁵⁹⁷³ the second⁸¹⁴⁵ child³²⁰⁶ that⁸³⁴ shall stand up⁵⁹⁷⁵ in his stead.⁸⁴⁷⁸

16  There is no³⁶⁹ end⁷⁰⁹³ of all³⁶⁰⁵ the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ even of all³⁶⁰⁵ that⁸³⁴ have been¹⁹⁶¹ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ them: they also¹⁵⁷¹ that come after³¹⁴ shall not³⁸⁰⁸ rejoice⁸⁰⁵⁵ in him. Surely³⁵⁸⁸ this²⁰⁸⁸ also¹⁵⁷¹ is vanity¹⁸⁹² and vexation⁷⁴⁷⁵ of spirit.⁷³⁰⁷

Sep

1 καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάσας τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γινομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν καὶ ἀπὸ χειρὸς συκοφαντούντων αὐτοὺς ἰσχύς καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν

2 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν τοὺς τεθνηκότας τοὺς ἤδη ἀποθανόντας ὑπὲρ τοὺς ζῶντας ὅσοι αὐτοὶ ζῶσιν ἕως τοῦ νῦν

3 καὶ ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο τούτους ὅστις οὔπω ἐγένετο ὃς οὐκ εἶδεν σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πονηρὸν τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον

4 καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ σὺν πάντα τὸν μόχθον καὶ σὺν πᾶσαν ἀνδρείαν τοῦ ποιήματος ὅτι αὐτὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος

5 ὁ ἄφρων περιέλαβεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφαγεν τὰς σάρκας αὐτοῦ

6 ἀγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πλήρωμα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος

7 καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον ματαιότητα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον

8 ἔστιν εἷς καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν δεύτερος καί γε υἱὸς καὶ ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ καί γε ὀφθαλμὸς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται πλούτου καὶ τίνι ἐγὼ μοχθῶ καὶ στερίσκω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀγαθωσύνης καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ περισπασμὸς πονηρός ἐστιν

9 ἀγαθοὶ οἱ δύο ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕνα οἷς ἔστιν αὐτοῖς μισθὸς ἀγαθὸς ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτῶν

10 ὅτι ἐὰν πέσωσιν ὁ εἷς ἐγερεῖ τὸν μέτοχον αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτῷ τῷ ἑνί ὅταν πέσῃ καὶ μὴ ᾖ δεύτερος τοῦ ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν

11 καί γε ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσιν δύο καὶ θέρμη αὐτοῖς καὶ ὁ εἷς πῶς θερμανθῇ

12 καὶ ἐὰν ἐπικραταιωθῇ ὁ εἷς οἱ δύο στήσονται κατέναντι αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ ἔντριτον οὐ ταχέως ἀπορραγήσεται

13 ἀγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι

14 ὅτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι ὅτι καί γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγεννήθη πένης

15 εἶδον σὺν πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας τοὺς περιπατοῦντας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου τοῦ δευτέρου ὃς στήσεται ἀντ᾽ αὐτοῦ

16 οὐκ ἔστιν περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ λαῷ τοῖς πᾶσιν ὅσοι ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν καί γε οἱ ἔσχατοι οὐκ εὐφρανθήσονται ἐν αὐτῷ ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος

17 φύλαξον πόδα σου ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν πορεύῃ εἰς οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀκούειν ὑπὲρ δόμα τῶν ἀφρόνων θυσία σου ὅτι οὔκ εἰσιν εἰδότες τοῦ ποιῆσαι κακόν

Tan

‎1 ‏וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם׃

‎2 ‏וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃

‎3 ‏וְטוֹב֙ מִשְּׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־עֲדֶ֖ן לֹ֣א הָיָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה הָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

‎4 ‏וְרָאִ֨יתִֽי אֲנִ֜י אֶת־כָּל־עָמָ֗ל וְאֵת֙ כָּל־כִּשְׁר֣וֹן הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֛י הִ֥יא קִנְאַת־אִ֖ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

‎5 ‏הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃

‎6 ‏ט֕וֹב מְלֹ֥א כַ֖ף נָ֑חַת מִמְּלֹ֥א חָפְנַ֛יִם עָמָ֖ל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

‎7 ‏וְשַׁ֧בְתִּי אֲנִ֛י וָאֶרְאֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

‎8 ‏יֵ֣שׁ אֶחָד֩ וְאֵ֨ין שֵׁנִ֜י גַּ֣ם בֵּ֧ן וָאָ֣ח אֵֽין־ל֗וֹ וְאֵ֥ין קֵץ֙ לְכָל־עֲמָל֔וֹ גַּם־עיניו עֵינ֖וֹ לֹא־תִשְׂבַּ֣ע עֹ֑שֶׁר וּלְמִ֣י׀ אֲנִ֣י עָמֵ֗ל וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר אֶת־נַפְשִׁי֙ מִטּוֹבָ֔ה גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֛בֶל וְעִנְיַ֥ן רָ֖ע הֽוּא׃

‎9 ‏טוֹבִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָלָֽם׃

‎10 ‏כִּ֣י אִם־יִפֹּ֔לוּ הָאֶחָ֖ד יָקִ֣ים אֶת־חֲבֵר֑וֹ וְאִ֣יל֗וֹ הָֽאֶחָד֙ שֶׁיִּפּ֔וֹל וְאֵ֥ין שֵׁנִ֖י לַהֲקִימֽוֹ׃

‎11 ‏גַּ֛ם אִם־יִשְׁכְּב֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם וְחַ֣ם לָהֶ֑ם וּלְאֶחָ֖ד אֵ֥יךְ יֵחָֽם׃

‎12 ‏וְאִֽם־יִתְקְפוֹ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק׃

‎13 ‏ט֛וֹב יֶ֥לֶד מִסְכֵּ֖ן וְחָכָ֑ם מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ זָקֵן֙ וּכְסִ֔יל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָדַ֥ע לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר עֽוֹד׃

‎14 ‏כִּֽי־מִבֵּ֥ית הָסוּרִ֖ים יָצָ֣א לִמְלֹ֑ךְ כִּ֛י גַּ֥ם בְּמַלְכוּת֖וֹ נוֹלַ֥ד רָֽשׁ׃

‎15 ‏רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים הַֽמְהַלְּכִ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עִ֚ם הַיֶּ֣לֶד הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

‎16 ‏אֵֽין־קֵ֣ץ לְכָל־הָעָ֗ם לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם גַּ֥ם הָאַחֲרוֹנִ֖ים לֹ֣א יִשְׂמְחוּ־ב֑וֹ כִּֽי־גַם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃

‎17 ‏שְׁמֹ֣ר רגליך רַגְלְךָ֗ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תֵּלֵךְ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקָר֣וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ מִתֵּ֥ת הַכְּסִילִ֖ים זָ֑בַח כִּֽי־אֵינָ֥ם יוֹדְעִ֖ים לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָֽע׃

Vul

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 et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes;

3 et feliciorem utroque judicavi
qui necdum natus est,
nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.

4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum,
et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi;
et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est.

5 Stultus complicat manus suas,
et comedit carnes suas, dicens:

6 Melior est pugillus cum requie,
quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.

7 Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.

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 [Melius est ergo duos esse simul quam unum;
habent enim emolumentum societatis suæ.

10 Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur.
Væ soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.

11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo;
unus quomodo calefiet?

12 Et si quispiam prævaluerit contra unum,
duo resistunt ei;
funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.

13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens,
rege sene et stulto,
qui nescit prævidere in posterum.

14 Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum;
et alius, natus in regno, inopia consumatur.

15 Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole
cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.

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.]