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.
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.
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
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.
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.
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.
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.
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity 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.
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.
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
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.
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.
11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
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.
14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
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.
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.
