Ecclesiastes 4
1 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.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have long been dead more than the living who are yet alive.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 Yea, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 There is one man who is alone, and he has not a second, yea, he has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end of all his labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, he says, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a great travail.
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and has not another to lift him up.
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth, but how can one be warm alone?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 And if a man prevails against him who is alone, two shall withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who does not know how to receive admonition any more.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 For he came forth out of prison to be king, yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, who stood up in his stead.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all those over whom he was. Yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
