Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4
Introduction
This entry meets the strict three-criteria standard of the Theosis Library, with the manuscript text drawn directly from the same source as the scan:
- Manuscript scan: The actual folio of Codex Sinaiticus containing this passage, from the Codex Sinaiticus Project (codexsinaiticus.org). Library folio reference: 144.
- Original text: The verbatim transcription of the Sinaiticus manuscript from the Codex Sinaiticus Project, preserving uncial forms, lunate sigma, nomina sacra (e.g. ⟨θϲ⟩ = θεός), and scribal marks. Nomina sacra are shown in angle brackets to indicate the manuscript's sacred-name abbreviations.
- English translation: The King James Version (1611), retrieved verbatim from the public-domain bible-api.com endpoint.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1και επεϲτρεψα εγω και ειδον · παϲαϲ ταϲ ϲυκοφαντιαϲ ταϲ γενομεναϲ ϋπο τον ηλιον και ϊδου δακρυον των ϲυκοφαντουμενων · και ουκ εϲτιν αυτοιϲ παρακαλων · και απο χειροϲ ϲυκοφαντουντων αυτουϲ ϊϲχυν και ουκ εϲτιν αυτοιϲ ο παρακαλω 2και επηνεϲα εγω ϲυν τουϲ τεθνηκοταϲ · τουϲ ηδη αποθανονταϲ υπερ τουϲ ζωνταϲ · οϲοι αυτοι ζωϲιν εωϲ του νυν 3 4και ειδον εγω ϲυν παντα τον μοχθον · και ϲυν παϲαν ανδριαν του ποιηματοϲ · οτι το ζηλοϲ ανδροϲ · απο του ετερου αυτου · και γε τουτο ματαιοτηϲ · και προαιρεϲιϲ πνϲ 5αφρων περιελαβεν ταϲ χιραϲ αυτου · και εφαγεν ταϲ ϲαρκαϲ αυτου
1So 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. 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Again, 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. 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6αγαθον πληρωμα δρακοϲ αναπαυϲεωϲ · ϋπερ πληρωματα δυο δρακων μοχθου · και προαιρεϲεωϲ πνϲ 7και επεϲτρεψα γω . και ειδον ματαιοτητα ϋπο τον ηλιον · 8εϲτιν ειϲ · και ουκ εϲτιν δευτεροϲ · και γε αδελφοϲ ουκ εϲτιν αυτω · και ουκ εϲτιν περαϲμοϲ τω παντι μοχθω αυτου · και γε οφθαλμοϲ ουκ εμπιπλαται πλουτου · και τινι εγω μοχθω . και ϲτεριϲκω την ψυχην μου απο αγαθωϲυνηϲ · και γε τουτο ματαιοτηϲ · και περιϲπαϲμοϲ πονηροϲ εϲτιν 9αγαθοι οι δυο ϋπερ τον ενα · οιϲ εϲτιν αυτοιϲ μιϲθοϲ αγαθοϲ · εν μοχθω αυτων 10οτι εαν πεϲωϲιν · ο ειϲ εγειρει τον μετοχον αυτου · και ουαι αυτω τω ενι οταν πεϲη · και μη η δευτεροϲ του εγιραι αυτο ·
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8There 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. 9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For 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.
11και γε εαν κοιμηθωϲιν οι δυο · και θερμη αυτοιϲ · και ο ειϲ πωϲ θερμανθη · 12και επικραταιωθη ο ειϲ · και οι δυο ϲτηϲονται κατεναντι αυτου · και το ϲπαρτιον το εντριτον ου ταχεωϲ απορραγηϲεται 13αγαθοϲ παιϲ πενηϲ και ϲοφοϲ · ϋπερ βαϲιλεα πρεϲβυτερον · και αφρονα οϲ ουκ εγνω του προϲεχειν ετι 14οτι εξ οικου των δεϲμων · εξελευϲεται βαϲιλευϲαι · οτι και γε εν βαϲιλεια αυτου · εγενηθη πενηϲ 15ειδον ϲυμπανταϲ τουϲ ζωνταϲ · τουϲ περιπατουνταϲ ϋπο τον ηλιον · μετα του νεανιϲκου του δευτερου · οϲ αναϲτηϲεται αντ αυτου ˙
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16ουκ εϲτιν περαϲμοϲ τω παντι λαω τοιϲ παϲιν · οτι εγενετο εμπροϲθεν αυτων · και γε οι εϲχατοι · ουκ ευφρανθηϲονται εν αυτω · οτι και γε τουτο ματαιοτηϲ . και προαιρεϲιϲ πνϲ ˙ 17φυλαξον ποδα ϲου . εν ω αν πορευη ειϲ οικον θυ · και εγγυϲ του ακουειν ˙ ϋπερ δομα των αφρονων θυϲιαϲ οτι ουκ ειϲιν ειδοτεϲ · του ποιηϲαι το καλον
16There 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.
Cite
Source & Cross-References
- Source text: Codex Sinaiticus folio + transcription (codexsinaiticus.org) + KJV (bible-api.com) — view original
- Critical edition: Tischendorf 8th edition (1869) / Codex Sinaiticus transcription
← previous · → next · v cycle view · l back to library