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 again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have 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.
So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
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, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was 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.
Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing 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.
Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
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 the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be 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 a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
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, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born 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 saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s 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 was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
