Ecclesiastes 4
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.
And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 And I praised the dead rather than the living:
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
3 And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.
And better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been done under the sun.
4 Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
And I have seen all the labor, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbor. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6 Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
“Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”
7 Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
8 There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he has not, and there is no end to all his labor! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he does not say], “For whom am I laboring and bereaving my soul of good?” This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labor.
10 If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.
For if they fall, the one raises up his companion, but woe to the one who falls and there is not a second to raise him up!
11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how has one heat?
12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.
14 Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor.
15 I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place;
16 The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter do not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and distress of spirit.
