Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
3 And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
Again, I saw futility under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
15 I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
16 There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
