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!
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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.
Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who 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 than them both is him who 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.
Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6 It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and chasing after wind.
7 Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
Then I returned and 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 who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
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 labour.
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 who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift 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 warmth; but how can one keep 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.
If a man prevails against one who is alone, 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 wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14 He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
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 was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
