Eclesiastés 4
Bible PGR
1Et je revins à considérer toutes les oppressions qui ont lieu sous le soleil ; et je vis les larmes des opprimés, et ils n'avaient point de consolateurs ; et la violence qui venait de la main de leurs oppresseurs, et ils n'avaient point de consolateurs.
2Alors je déclarai les morts, qui sont morts depuis longtemps, plus heureux que les vivants demeurés vivants jusques ici.
3Mais plus heureux que les uns et les autres est celui qui n'est pas arrivé dans cette vie, et n'a pas été témoin des méchantes actions qui se font sous le soleil. –
4Et je vis tout le labeur et tout le résultat de l'activité ; c'était rivalité entre celui-ci et celui-là. Cela aussi est une vanité et un effort stérile. –
5L'insensé tient ses bras croisés, et se consume lui-même.
6Mieux vaut le creux de la main rempli de repos, que deux pleines poignées de labeur et d'effort stérile. –
7Et je vis encore une vanité sous le soleil.
8Cet homme est seul, et n'a pas un autre lui-même ; il n'a ni fils, ni frère, et cependant son labeur est sans fin, et ses yeux n'ont jamais assez des richesses. Pour qui donc est-ce que je me peine, et sèvre mon âme du bonheur ? C'est aussi là une vanité et une tâche ingrate.
9Deux valent mieux qu'un, car ils retirent un bon salaire de leur travail.
10En effet, s'ils tombent, l'un relève l'autre ; mais malheur à celui qui est seul et qui tombe, et n'a pas un second pour le relever !
11De même quand deux couchent ensemble, ils ont chaud ; mais celui qui est seul, comment aurait-il chaud ?
12Et si quelqu'un attaque l'un des deux, ils seront à deux pour lui tenir tête ; et le triple cordon n'est pas vite rompu. –
13Un enfant pauvre, mais sage, vaut mieux qu'un roi vieux et insensé qui ne sait plus être éclairé.
14Car il sortit de la maison des prisonniers pour être roi, quoique né pauvre dans le royaume qui serait le sien.
15Je vis tous les vivants qui se promènent sous le soleil escorter l'enfant, cet autre, qui succéda au trône :
16tout le peuple, tous ceux à la tête desquels il était, ne finissaient pas ; eh bien ! les après-venants ne seront plus ravis de lui. C'est que cela aussi est une vanité et un effort stérile.
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.