Ecclesiastes

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.

1 καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάσας τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γινομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ χειρὸς συκοφαντούντων αὐτοὺς ἰσχύς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν.	1 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάσας τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γενομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων, καὶ οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ χειρὸς συκοφαντούντων αὐτοῖς ἰσχύς, καὶ οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν.
1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun; and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of those who oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter.	1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun; and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of those who oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter.

2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

2 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν τοὺς τεθνηκότας τοὺς ἤδη ἀποθανόντας ὑπὲρ τοὺς ζῶντας, ὅσοι αὐτοὶ ζῶσιν ἕως τοῦ νῦν·	2 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν πάντας τοὺς τεθνηκότας τοὺς ἤδη ἀποθανόντας ὑπὲρ τοὺς ζῶντας, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ζῶσιν ἕως τοῦ νῦν·
2 and I praised all the dead who had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.	2 and I praised all the dead who had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

3 Yes, better is he than both they, which hasn’t yet been, who hasn’t seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

3 καὶ ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο τούτους ὅστις οὔπω ἐγένετο, ὃς οὐκ εἶδεν σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πονηρὸν τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.	3 καὶ ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο τούτους ὅστις οὔπω ἐγένετο, ὃς οὐκ εἶδε σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πονηρὸν τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
3 Better also than both these is he who hasn’t yet been, who hasn’t seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.	3 Better also than both these is he who hasn’t yet been, who hasn’t seen all 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.

4 καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ σὺν πάντα τὸν μόχθον καὶ σὺν πᾶσαν ἀνδρείαν τοῦ ποιήματος, ὅτι αὐτὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ· καὶ γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.	4 Καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ σὺν πάντα τὸν μόχθον καὶ σὺν πᾶσαν ἀνδρείαν τοῦ ποιήματος, ὅτι αὐτὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
4 And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man’s envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.	4 And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man’s envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

5 ὁ ἄφρων περιέλαβεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφαγεν τὰς σάρκας αὐτοῦ.	5 ὁ ἄφρων περιέβαλε τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφαγε τὰς σάρκας αὐτοῦ.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.	5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

6 ἀγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πλήρωμα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος.	6 ἀγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πληρώματα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος.
6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.	6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

7 καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον ματαιότητα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.	7 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον ματαιότητα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.	7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a sore travail.

8 ἔστιν εἷς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν δεύτερος, καὶ γε υἱὸς καὶ ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ γε ὀφθαλμὸς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται πλούτου. καὶ τίνι ἐγὼ μοχθῶ καὶ στερίσκω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀγαθωσύνης; καὶ γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ περισπασμὸς πονηρός ἐστιν.	8 ἔστιν εἷς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δεύτερος, καί γε υἱὸς καί γε ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πειρασμὸς τῷ παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, καί γε ὀφθαλμὸς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται πλούτου. καί τίνι ἐγὼ μοχθῶ καὶ στερίσκω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀγαθωσύνης; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ περισπασμὸς πονηρός ἔστι.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This is also vanity, and an evil trouble.	8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

9 ἀγαθοὶ οἱ δύο ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕνα, οἷς ἔστιν αὐτοῖς μισθὸς ἀγαθὸς ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτῶν·	9 ἀγαθοὶ οἱ δύο ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕνα, οἷς ἐστιν αὐτοῖς μισθὸς ἀγαθὸς ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτῶν·
9 Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.	9 Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for he hasn’t another to help him up.

10 ὅτι ἐὰν πέσωσιν, ὁ εἷς ἐγερεῖ τὸν μέτοχον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτῷ τῷ ἑνί, ὅταν πέσῃ καὶ μὴ ᾖ δεύτερος τοῦ ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν.	10 ὅτι ἐὰν πέσωσιν, ὁ εἷς ἐγερεῖ τὸν μέτοχον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτῷ τῷ ἑνί, ὅταν πέσῃ καὶ μὴ ᾖ δεύτερος ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.	10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?

11 καὶ γε ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσιν δύο, καὶ θέρμη αὐτοῖς· καὶ ὁ εἷς πῶς θερμανθῇ;	11 καί γε ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσι δύο, καὶ θέρμη αὐτοῖς· καὶ ὁ εἷς πῶς θερμανθῇ;
11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat; but how shall one be warmed alone?	11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat; but how shall one be warmed alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

12 καὶ ἐὰν ἐπικραταιωθῇ ὁ εἷς, οἱ δύο στήσονται κατέναντι αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ ἔντριτον οὐ ταχέως ἀπορραγήσεται.	12 καὶ ἐὰν ἐπικραταιωθῇ ὁ εἷς, οἱ δύο στήσονται κατέναντι αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ ἔντριτον οὐ ταχέως ἀπορραγήσεται.
12 And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.	12 And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

13 ἀγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι.	13 Ἀγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι·
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who doesn’t know how to take heed any longer.	13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who doesn’t know how to take heed any longer.

14 For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he who is born in his kingdom becomes poor.

14 ὅτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι, ὅτι καὶ γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγεννήθη πένης.	14 ὅτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι, ὅτι καί γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγενήθη πένης.
14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also who was in his kingdom has become poor.	14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also who was in his kingdom has become poor.

15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child who shall stand up in his stead.

15 εἶδον σὺν πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας τοὺς περιπατοῦντας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου τοῦ δευτέρου, ὃς στήσεται ἀντ’ αὐτοῦ,	15 εἶδον σὺν πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας τοὺς περιπατοῦντας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου τοῦ δευτέρου, ὃς στήσεται ἀντ’ αὐτοῦ·
15 I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one’s place.	15 I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one’s place.

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all who have been before them: they also who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

16 οὐκ ἔστιν περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ λαῷ, τοῖς πᾶσιν, ὅσοι ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν· καὶ γε οἱ ἔσχατοι οὐκ εὐφρανθήσονται ἐν αὐτῷ· ὅτι καὶ γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.	16 οὐκ ἔστι περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ λαῷ, τοῖς πᾶσιν, ὅσοι ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν· καί γε οἱ ἔσχατοι οὐκ εὐφρανθήσονται ἐν αὐτῷ· ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; and the last shall not rejoice in him; for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.	16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; and the last shall not rejoice in him; for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.