Ecclesiastes 4

1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.

and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.

Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!

11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?

12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.

I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.

16 There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

[There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.