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.

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,

And then my thoughts would turn back to all the wrongs that are done under the sun’s eye. Innocent folk in tears, and who is to comfort them? Who is to comfort them, powerless against their oppressors?

And I praised the dead rather than the living:

et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes;

The dead, it seemed, were more to be envied than the living;

And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.

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

better yet to be still unborn, never to have known the shameful deeds that are done, out here in the sunlight.

Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

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

I thought, too, of human toil and striving; how much it owed to man’s rivalry with his fellows! All was frustration and lost labour here.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

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

What wonder if the fool sits idle, and starves to death?

Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.

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

Better a handful (says he) quietly come by, than a whole armful that is all striving and labour lost.

Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:

Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.

And there was another kind of frustration I marked, here under the sun.

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.

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.

Here is one that works alone, partner nor son nor brother to aid him, yet still works on, never content with his bright hoard, never asking, as he toils and stints himself, who shall gain by it. Frustration and lost labour, here too.

It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:

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

Better to be in partnership with another, than alone; partnership brings advantage to both.

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.

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

If one falls, the other will give support; with the lonely it goes hard; when he falls, there is none to raise him.

And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?

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

Sleep two in one bed, each shall warm the other; for the lonely, there is no warmth.

And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

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

Two may withstand assault, where one is no match for it; a triple cord is not lightly broken.

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

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

There is more hope for a wise servant that is in hard straits, than for a dotard king that foresight has none.

Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.

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

Men have risen to a throne that till now were bound in prison; men born to rule a kingdom have died of want.

I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.

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

I have seen the whole world, from east to west, take part with the young man, the usurper that rises in the old king’s stead.

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.

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.

The old king, that had an immemorial line of ancestors; and now posterity shall take no pride in him! All is frustration, and labour lost.

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.

Custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei, et appropinqua ut audias. Multo enim melior est obedientia quam stultorum victimæ, qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali.

Look well what thou art doing when thou goest into God’s house; present thyself there in a spirit of obedience. Obedience is far better than the sacrifice made by fools, that are guilty of unwitting sacrilege.