Eclesiastés 4
Lutherbibel 1545
1Ich sah an Arbeit und Geschicklichkeit in allen Sachen; da neidet einer den andern. Das ist je auch eitel und Mühe.
2Denn ein Narr schlägt die Finger ineinander und frißt sein Fleisch.
3Es ist besser eine Hand voll mit Ruhe denn beide Fäuste voll mit Mühe und Jammer.
4Ich wandte mich und sah die Eitelkeit unter der Sonne.
5Es ist ein einzelner und nicht selbander und hat weder Kind noch Brüder; noch ist seines Arbeitens kein Ende, und seine Augen werden Reichtums nicht satt. Wem arbeite ich doch und breche meiner Seele ab? Das ist je auch eitel und eine böse Mühe.
6So ist's je besser zwei denn eins; denn sie genießen doch ihrer Arbeit wohl.
7Fällt ihrer einer, so hilft ihm sein Gesell auf. Wehe dem, der allein ist! Wenn er fällt, so ist kein anderer da, der ihm aufhelfe.
8Auch wenn zwei beieinander liegen, wärmen sie sich; wie kann ein' einzelner warm werden?
9Einer mag überwältiget werden, aber zween mögen widerstehen; denn eine dreifältige Schnur reißt nicht leicht entzwei.
10Ein arm Kind, das weise ist, ist besser denn ein alter König, der ein Narr ist und weiß sich nicht zu hüten.
11Es kommt einer aus dem Gefängnis zum Königreich; und einer, der in seinem Königreich geboren ist, verarmet.
12Und ich sah, daß alle Lebendigen unter der Sonne wandeln bei einem andern Kinde, das an jenes Statt soll aufkommen.
13Und des Volks, das vor ihm ging, war kein Ende, und des, das ihm nachging; und wurden sein doch nicht froh. Das ist je auch eitel und ein Jammer.
14Bewahre deinen Fuß, wenn du zum Hause Gottes gehest, und komm, daß du hörest! Das ist besser denn der Narren Opfer; denn sie wissen nicht, was sie Böses tun.
15Sei nicht schnell mit deinem Munde und laß dein Herz nicht eilen, etwas zu reden vor Gott; denn Gott ist im Himmel und du auf Erden; darum laß deiner Worte wenig sein.
16Denn wo viel Sorgen ist, da kommen Träume; und wo viele Worte sind, da höret man den Narren.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y TORNÉME yo, y vi todas las violencias que se hacen debajo del sol: y he aquí las lágrimas de los oprimidos, y sin tener quien los consuele; y la fuerza estaba en la mano de sus opresores, y para ellos no había consolador.
2Y alabé yo los finados que ya murieron, más que los vivientes que hasta ahora están vivos.
3Y tuve por mejor que unos y otros al que no ha sido aún, que no ha visto las malas obras que debajo del sol se hacen.
4Visto he asimismo que todo trabajo y toda excelencia de obras mueve la envidia del hombre contra su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
5El necio dobla sus manos y come su carne.
6Mas vale el un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con trabajo y aflicción de espíritu.
7Yo me torné otra vez, y vi vanidad debajo del sol.
8Está un hombre solo y sin sucesor; que ni tiene hijo ni hermano; mas nunca cesa de trabajar, ni sus ojos se hartan de sus riquezas, ni se pregunta: ¿Para quién trabajo yo, y defraudo mi alma del bien? También esto es vanidad, y duro trabajo.
9Mejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo.
10Porque si cayeren, el uno levantará á su compañero: mas ¡ay del solo! que cuando cayere, no habrá segundo que lo levante.
11También si dos durmieren juntos, se calentarán; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno solo?
12Y si alguno prevaleciere contra el uno, dos estarán contra él; y cordón de tres dobleces no presto se rompe.
13Mejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.
14Porque de la cárcel salió para reinar; mientras el nacido en su reino se hizo pobre.
15Vi todos los vivientes debajo del sol caminando con el muchacho sucesor, que estará en lugar de aquél.
16No tiene fin todo el pueblo que fué antes de ellos: tampoco los que vendrán después estarán con él contentos. Y esto es también vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
King James Version
1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
World English Bible
1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
12If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.