| | | Abbé Crampon | |
| 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. | Je me suis tourné et j'ai vu toutes les oppressions qui se commettent sous le soleil : et voici que les opprimés sont dans les larmes, et personne ne les console; Ils sont en bute à la violence de leurs oppresseurs, et personne ne les console! | Then I returned and saw 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. | Et j'ai proclamé les morts qui sont déjà morts plus heureux que les vivants qui sont encore vivants, et plus heureux que les uns et les autres, | Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that 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. | celui qui n'est pas encore arrivé à l'existence, qui n'a pas vu les mauvaises actions qui se commettent sous le soleil. | yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that 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. | J'ai vu que tout travail et que toute habileté dans un ouvrage n'est que jalousie contre un homme de la part de son prochain : cela encore est vanité et poursuite du vent. | Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. |
| 5 | The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. | L'insensé se croise les mains, et mange sa propre chair. | 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. | Mieux vaut une main pleine de repos, que les deux mains pleines de labeur et de poursuite du vent. | Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind. |
| 7 | Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. | Je me suis tourné et j'ai vu une autre vanité sous le soleil. | Then I returned and 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. | Tel homme est seul et n'a pas de second, il n'a ni fils ni frère, et pourtant il n'y a pas de fin à tout son travail, et ses yeux ne sont jamais rassasiés de richesses : "Pour qui donc est-ce que je travaille, et que je prive mon âme de jouissance ?"Cela encore est vanité, et mauvaise occupation. Inconvénients de la vie solitaire. | There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. |
| 9 | Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. | Mieux vaut vivre à deux que solitaire; il y a pour les deux un bon salaire dans leur travail; | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. |
| 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. | Car s'ils tombent, l'un peut relever son compagnon. Mais malheur à celui qui est seul, et qui tombe sans avoir un second pour le relever! | For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. |
| 11 | Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? | De même, si deux couchent ensemble, ils se réchauffent; mais un homme seul, comment aurait-il chaud! | Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; 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. | Et si quelqu'un maîtrise celui qui est seul, les deux pourront lui résister, et le fil triplé ne rompt pas facilement. Vanité des espoirs fondés sur un changement de règne. | And if a man prevail against him that is alone, 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. | mieux vaut un jeune homme pauvre et sage qu'un roi vieux et insensé qui ne sait plus écouter les avis; | Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. |
| 14 | For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. | car il sort de prison pour régner, quoiqu'il soit né pauvre dans son royaume. | For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. |
| 15 | I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. | J'ai vu tous les vivants qui marchent sou le soleil près du jeune homme qui s'élevait à la place du vieux roi. | I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood 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. | Il n'y avait pas de fin à toute cette foule, à tous ceux à la tête desquels il était. Et cependant les descendants ne se réjouiront pas à son sujet. Cela encore est vanité et poursuite du vent. Sentences concernant le culte. | There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. |
