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.
So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
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 I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
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.
Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
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 there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages 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 fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily 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 poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more 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 he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
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 none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
