Ecclesiastes 4
1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
But 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 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
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 labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
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 down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
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 but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
