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Ecclesiaste 4
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Ecclesiaste 4
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
La società
4 Ho poi considerato tutte le oppressioni che si commettono sotto il sole. Ecco il pianto degli oppressi che non hanno chi li consoli; da parte dei loro oppressori sta la violenza, mentre per essi non c'è chi li consoli. 2 Allora ho proclamato più felici i morti, ormai trapassati, dei viventi che sono ancora in vita; 3 ma ancor più felice degli uni e degli altri chi ancora non è e non ha visto le azioni malvage che si commettono sotto il sole.
4 Ho osservato anche che ogni fatica e tutta l'abilità messe in un lavoro non sono che invidia dell'uno con l'altro. Anche questo è vanità e un inseguire il vento.
5 Lo stolto incrocia le braccia
e divora la sua carne.
6 Meglio una manciata con riposo
che due manciate con fatica.
7 Inoltre ho considerato un'altra vanità sotto il sole: 8 uno è solo, senza eredi, non ha un figlio, non un fratello. Eppure non smette mai di faticare, né il suo occhio è sazio di ricchezza: «Per chi mi affatico e mi privo dei beni?». Anche questo è vanità e un cattivo affannarsi.
9 Meglio essere in due che uno solo, perché due hanno un miglior compenso nella fatica. 10 Infatti, se vengono a cadere, l'uno rialza l'altro. Guai invece a chi è solo: se cade, non ha nessuno che lo rialzi. 11 Inoltre, se due dormono insieme, si possono riscaldare; ma uno solo come fa a riscaldarsi? 12 Se uno aggredisce, in due gli possono resistere e una corda a tre capi non si rompe tanto presto.
13 Meglio un ragazzo povero ma accorto,
che un re vecchio e stolto
che non sa ascoltare i consigli.
14 Il ragazzo infatti può uscir di prigione ed esser proclamato re, anche se, mentre quegli regnava, è nato povero. 15 Ho visto tutti i viventi che si muovono sotto il sole, stare con quel ragazzo, il secondo, cioè l'usurpatore. 16 Era una folla immensa quella di cui egli era alla testa. Ma coloro che verranno dopo non avranno da rallegrarsi di lui. Anche questo è vanità e un inseguire il vento.
17 Bada ai tuoi passi, quando ti rechi alla casa di Dio. Avvicinarsi per ascoltare vale più del sacrificio offerto dagli stolti che non comprendono neppure di far male.
Ecclesiastes 4
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4
New International Version
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.(B)
2 And I declared that the dead,(C)
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.(D)
3 But better than both
is the one who has never been born,(E)
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.(F)
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(G)
5 Fools fold their hands(H)
and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil(I)
and chasing after the wind.
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Advancement Is Meaningless
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Prediger 4
Schlachter 1951
Prediger 4
Schlachter 1951
Unterdrückung und Ausgrenzung
4 Und wiederum sah ich alle Bedrückungen, die verübt werden unter der Sonne;
und siehe, da flossen Tränen von Unterdrückten, die keinen Tröster hatten;
und weil die Hand ihrer Unterdrücker so stark war, konnte sie niemand trösten.
2 Da pries ich die Toten, die längst gestorben sind,
glücklicher als die Lebenden, die jetzt noch am Leben sind.
3 Aber besser als beide ist der daran, welcher noch gar nicht geboren ist,
weil er das leidige Tun, das unter der Sonne geschieht, gar nicht gesehen hat.
4 Ich sah auch, daß alle Mühe und alles Gelingen im Geschäft nur den Neid des einen gegen den andern weckt; und auch das ist eitel und ein Haschen nach Wind!
5 Der Tor faltet seine Hände und verzehrt sein eigenes Fleisch.
6 Besser eine Handvoll Ruhe, als beide Fäuste voll Mühsal und Haschen nach Wind!
7 Und wiederum sah ich Eitelkeit unter der Sonne:
8 Da steht einer ganz allein, hat weder Sohn noch Bruder, und doch ist seines Arbeitens kein Ende, und er sieht nie Reichtum genug und denkt nicht:
Für wen mühe ich mich doch ab und enthalte meiner Seele das Beste vor?
Auch das ist nichtig und eine leidige Plage.
9 Es ist besser, man sei zu zweien, als allein;
denn der Arbeitslohn fällt um so besser aus.
10 Denn wenn sie fallen, so hilft der eine dem andern auf;
wehe aber dem, der allein ist, wenn er fällt und kein zweiter da ist, um ihn aufzurichten!
11 Auch wenn zwei beieinander liegen, so wärmen sie sich gegenseitig;
aber wie soll einer warm werden, wenn er allein ist?
12 Und wenn man den einen angreift, so können die beiden Widerstand leisten;
und eine dreifache Schnur wird nicht so bald zerrissen.
Öffentliche Anerkennung ist eitel
13 Ein armer, aber gescheiter Jüngling ist besser, als ein alter, närrischer König, der sich nicht mehr beraten läßt. 14 Denn aus dem Gefängnis ist er hervorgegangen, um zu herrschen, obschon er im Königreiche jenes arm geboren ward. 15 Ich sah, daß alle Lebendigen, die unter der Sonne wandeln, mit dem Jüngling gehen, dem zweiten, der an jenes Stelle treten sollte. 16 Des Volkes war kein Ende, vor welchem er herging; werden nicht auch die Nachkommen sich seiner freuen? Oder ist auch das eitel und ein Haschen nach Wind?
Vorsicht im Reden
17 [a] Bewahre deinen Fuß, wenn du zum Hause Gottes gehst! Sich herzunahen, um zu hören, ist besser, als wenn die Toren Opfer bringen; denn sie haben keine Erkenntnis des Bösen, das sie tun.
Footnotes
- Prediger 4:17 KJV und NIV zählen diesen Vers als 5:1
Ecclesiastes 4
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 4
King James Version
4 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.
Ecclesiastes 4
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 4
New King James Version
The Uselessness of Selfish Toil
4 Then I returned and considered all the (A)oppression that is done under the sun:
And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter—
[a]On the side of their oppressors there is power,
But they have no comforter.
2 (B)Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
3 (C)Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
The Vanity of Selfish Toil
4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
5 (D)The fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.
6 (E)Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
8 There is one alone, without [b]companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his (F)eye satisfied with riches.
But (G)he never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of (H)good?”
This also is vanity and a [c]grave misfortune.
The Value of a Friend
9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Popularity Passes Away
13 Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
14 For he comes out of prison to be king,
Although [d]he was born poor in his kingdom.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun;
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
16 There was no end of all the people [e]over whom he was made king;
Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:1 Lit. At the hand
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit. a second
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit. evil task
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 The youth
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 Lit. to all before whom he was to be
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Schlachter 1951 (SCH1951)
Copyright © 1951 by Geneva Bible Society
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.