Ecclesiastes 4
Thomson 1808
Brenton 1851
Greek · Brenton
1
ThomsonTHEN I turned and took a view of all the different sorts of oppression under the sun; and behold the tear of the oppressed and they have no comforter. Though from the hand of oppressors some have relief; yet others have no comforter.
BrentonSo 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 them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ, καὶ εἶδον συμπάσας τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γενομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ χειρὸς συκοφαντούντων αὐτοῖς ἰσχὺς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν.
2
ThomsonTherefore I praised the whole body of the dead—those who were already dead, above the living—
Brentonand I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σύμπαντας τοὺς τεθνηκότας τοὺς ἤδη ἀποθανόντας ὑπὲρ τοὺς ζῶντας, ὅσοι αὐτοὶ ζῶσιν ἕως τοῦ νῦν.
3
Thomsonthose who are still alive: but better than both is he who hath never been—who hath not seen all the evil work which is done under the sun.
BrentonBetter also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο τούτους ὅστις οὔπω ἐγένετο, ὃς οὐκ εἶδε σὺν πᾶν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πονηρὸν τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
4
ThomsonIn the review of labour in general, I took a view in particular of manly exertion in executing. Because this causeth a man to be envied by his neighbour, this therefore is vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ σύμπαντα τὸν μόχθον, καὶ σύμπασαν ἀνδρίαν τοῦ ποιήματος, ὅτι αὐτὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
5
ThomsonThe fool folded his hands and devouring his flesh said,
BrentonThe fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
GreekὉ ἄφρων περιέβαλε τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔφαγε τὰς σάρκας αὐτοῦ.
6
ThomsonBetter is one handful of rest than two handfuls of labour and vexation of spirit.
BrentonBetter is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
GreekἈγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πληρώματα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος.
7
ThomsonThen I turned and took a view of a vanity under the sun—
BrentonSo I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ, καὶ εἶδον ματαιότητα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
8
ThomsonHere is a single individual who hath no second; at least he hath neither son nor brother, yet there is no end to all his labour. His eye is not satisfied with riches, yet doth he say, For whom do I labour and deprive my soul of good? Surely this is vanity and a sore vexation.
BrentonThere is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, 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.
GreekἜστιν εἷς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δεύτερος· καί γε υἱὸς καί γε ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ· καί γε ὀφθαλμὸς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπίμπλαται πλούτου· καὶ τίνι ἐγὼ μοχθῶ, καὶ στερίσκω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀγαθωσύνης; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ περισπασμὸς πονηρός ἐστιν.
9
ThomsonTwo are better than one. They have a better reward for their labour.
BrentonTwo are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.
GreekἈγαθοὶ οἱ δύο ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕνα, οἷς ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς μισθὸς ἀγαθὸς ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτῶν·
10
ThomsonFor if they chance to fall the one can raise up his fellow. But alas for him who is alone, when he falleth and hath not another to raise him up.
BrentonFor if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
GreekὍτι ἐὰν πέσωσιν, ὁ εἷς ἐγερεῖ τὸν μέτοχον αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτῷ τῷ ἑνὶ, ὅταν πέσῃ καὶ μὴ ᾖ δεύτερος ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν.
11
ThomsonAgain if two lie together they have warmth: but how can one be warm who is alone?
BrentonAlso if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone?
GreekΚαί γε ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσι δύο, καὶ θέρμη αὐτοῖς, καὶ ὁ εἷς πῶς θερμανθῇ;
12
ThomsonAgain though one should be strong the two may withstand him, and a threefold cord cannot easily be broken.
BrentonAnd if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν ἐπικραταιωθῇ ὁ εἷς, οἱ δύο στήσονται κατέναντι αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ ἔντριτον οὐ ταχέως ἀποῤῥαγήσεται.
13
ThomsonBetter is a poor and wise subject than an old and foolish king who hath not yet learned how to conduct himself;
BrentonBetter is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
GreekἈγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι·
14
Thomsonfor out of prison he may come to reign. Because even in his own kingdom he was needy;
BrentonFor he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
GreekὍτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι, ὅτι καί γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγενήθη πένης.
15
ThomsonI took a view of the whole body of the living who were walking under the sun with the youth second in rank who is to succeed him.
BrentonI beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
GreekΕἶδον σύμπαντας τοὺς ζῶντας τοὺς περιπατοῦντας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου τοῦ δευτέρου, ὃς στήσεται ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.
16
ThomsonThere is no end of all the people—of all who preceded them. Yet they who come last will have no joy in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonThere 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.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστι περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ λαῷ, τοῖς πᾶσιν οἳ ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν· καί γε οἱ ἔσχατοι οὐκ εὐφρανθήσονται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ· ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
17
Thomson—
BrentonKeep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and when thou art near to hear, let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil.
GreekΦύλαξον τὸν πόδα σου, ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν πορεύῃ εἰς οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀκούειν, ὑπὲρ δόμα τῶν ἀφρόνων θυσία σου, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν εἰδότες τοῦ ποιῆσαι κακόν.