1 So 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. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 ¶ Again, 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. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There 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.
9 ¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For 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. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone ? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16 There 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.
Netaisnība un apspiešana
1 Un atkal es redzu visu to apspiestību, kas notiek zem saules, un redzi –
apspiesto asaras!
Un nav viņiem mierinātāja!
Un viņu apspiedēju rokā ir spēks!
Un nav viņiem mierinātāja!
2 Miroņi, kas jau nomiruši, man šķiet laimīgāki par dzīvajiem, kuri vēl dzīvi, 3 bet labāk par šiem abiem ir tiem, kuru vēl nav, kuri nav redzējuši to ļaundarību, kas notiek zem saules.
4 Un es uzlūkoju visus pūliņus un izmanību darbā, jo tā ir cilvēka skaudība pret savu tuvāko. Tā arī ir tukšība un vēja tvarsts!
5 Muļķis sēž saņemtām rokām
un ēd pats savu miesu.
6 Labāk sauja rimtuma
nekā abas riekšavas pilnas
pūliņu un vēja tvarsta!
Drauga vērtība
7 Un atkal es redzu, ka zem saules vien tukšība. 8 Viens ir, bet viņam nav otra – ne dēla, ne brāļa. Nav gala viņa pūliņiem, un acs nerod bagātībā sāta: priekš kā es nopūlos un liedzu sev prieku? Tā arī ir tukšība, un nejauks šis amats! 9 Labāk diviem nekā vienam, tāpēc ka tiem tiek laba alga par viņu pūlēm. 10 Ja pakritīs viens, otrs to piecels, bet vai! tam, kurš pakrīt viens pats un nav otra, kas viņu pieceļ. 11 Un, ja divi guļ kopā, tad tiem ir silts, bet viens – kā lai sasildās? 12 Un, ja pievarēs vienu, divi turēsies pretī, un trīskārša saite nesatrūkst ātri.
13 Labāk trūcīgs, bet gudrs zēns, nekā vecs un neldzīgs ķēniņš, kurš nespēj vairs piesargāties. 14 Jo, no gūstekņu nama nācis, viņš par ķēniņu kļuvis, kaut savā valstī piedzimis trūcīgs. 15 Es redzēju visus dzīvos, kas staigā zem saules, esam ar to otro – to zēnu, kas nāk viņa vietā. 16 Nav skaita ļaudīm, kas bija pirms viņiem abiem, – bet pēcnācēji nepriecāsies par viņu, un arī tas – tikai tukšība un vēja tvarsts.
17 Uzmani savus soļus, kad ej uz Dieva namu. Pienākt un ieklausīties ir labāk, nekā kad muļķi nāk upurēt, jo tie pat nezina, ka dara sliktu.
