Ecclesiastes 4
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
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.
2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
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.
4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
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.
5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
6 “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
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.
9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
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.
11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
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.
14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.
15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
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.
