1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.16 There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.17 \5:1\Put your feet down with care when you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil.

1 [Verti me ad alia, et vidi calumniasqu sub sole geruntur,et lacrimas innocentium,et neminem consolatorem,nec posse resistere eorum violenti,cunctorum auxilio destitutos,2 et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes ;3 et feliciorem utroque judicaviqui necdum natus est,nec vidit mala qu sub sole fiunt.4 Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum,et industrias animadverti patere invidi 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 su.10 Si unus ceciderit, ab altero fulcietur.V soli, quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem se.11 Et si dormierint duo, fovebuntur mutuo ;unus quomodo calefiet ?12 Et si quispiam prvaluerit contra unum,duo resistunt ei ;funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur.13 Melior est puer pauper et sapiens,rege sene et stulto,qui nescit prvidere 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 solecum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.16 Infinitus numerus est populiomnium qui fuerunt ante eum,et qui postea futuri sunt non ltabuntur 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 victim,qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali.]