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

Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which 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.

Yes, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has 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.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

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

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

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

Then I returned, and I 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 there is not a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a sore travail.

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 labor.

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 falls; for he has not another to help 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 heat: but how can one be warm alone?

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

And if one prevail against him, 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 and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who 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 prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor.

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

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall 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, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.