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.
So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all 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.
And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.
So 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 [alone], and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labor.
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 falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]
12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be 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 knows not how to take heed any longer.
14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become 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 who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
