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.

Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, 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.

Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago 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.

Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which 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 labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after 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 hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.

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

Then I turned and saw other 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 who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!

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 his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath 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 an enemy prevail against one, 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 child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, 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 cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.

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 that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood 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 was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.