| | | English | Latin |
| 4 | 1 | I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any. | verti me ad alia et vidi calumnias quae sub sole geruntur et lacrimas innocentum et consolatorem neminem nec posse resistere eorum violentiae cunctorum auxilio destitutos |
| 4 | 2 | And I praised the dead rather than the living: | et laudavi magis mortuos quam viventes |
| 4 | 3 | And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun. | et feliciorem utroque iudicavi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quae sub sole fiunt |
| 4 | 4 | Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care. | rursum contemplatus omnes labores hominum et industrias animadverti patere invidiae proximi et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est |
| 4 | 5 | The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying: | stultus conplicat manus suas et comedit carnes suas dicens |
| 4 | 6 | Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind. | melior est pugillus cum requie quam plena utraque manus cum labore et adflictione animi |
| 4 | 7 | Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: | considerans repperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole |
| 4 | 8 | There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation. | unus est et secundum non habet non filium non fratrem et tamen laborare non cessat nec satiantur oculi eius divitiis nec recogitat dicens cui laboro et fraudo animam meam bonis in hoc quoque vanitas est et adflictio pessima |
| 4 | 9 | It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: | melius ergo est duos simul esse quam unum habent enim emolumentum societatis suae |
| 4 | 10 | If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. | si unus ceciderit ab altero fulcietur vae soli quia cum ruerit non habet sublevantem |
| 4 | 11 | And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? | et si dormierint duo fovebuntur mutuo unus quomodo calefiet |
| 4 | 12 | And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken. | et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent ei funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur |
| 4 | 13 | Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter. | melior est puer pauper et sapiens rege sene et stulto qui nescit providere in posterum |
| 4 | 14 | Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty. | quod et de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatur ad regnum et alius natus in regno inopia consumatur |
| 4 | 15 | I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place. | vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adulescente secundo qui consurgit pro eo |
| 4 | 16 | The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. | infinitus numerus est populi omnium qui fuerunt ante eum et qui postea futuri sunt non laetabuntur in eo sed et hoc vanitas et adflictio spiritus |
| 4 | 17 | Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, who know not what evil they do. | custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei multo enim melior est oboedientia quam stultorum victimae qui nesciunt quid faciant mali |