Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
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 I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
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 I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive 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 Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
6 It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
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, for they can help each other in their work.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
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 In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor.
15 I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
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.
