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.

And I turned about, and beheld all the oppressed that are made so under the sun: and, behold, there are the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors they suffer violence; and they have no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.

Thereupon praised I the dead that are already dead, more than 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.

And as happier than both of them, him who hath not yet come into being, who hath not seen the evil-doing 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.

Again, I beheld all the toil, and all the energy in doing, that it is [from] the envy of one man of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.

Better is a handful of quiet, than both the hands full of toil and torture of spirit.

7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.

Then I turned about, and I saw a 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.

There is one alone, and he hath not a companion; yea, he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end to all his toil; his eye also is not satisfied with riches. Yet for whom do I toil, and deprive my soul of good? Also this is vanity, yea, it is a bad employment.

9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.

Two are better than one; because they will have a good reward for their toil.

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 they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to the single one that falleth; for he hath no companion to lift him up.

11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?

Also, if two lie together, then will they become warm; but how can one person alone become warm?

12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.

And if a man could overpower him, the single one, two would stand up against him: and a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn asunder.

13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and a wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to be admonished any more.

14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.

For out of the prison cometh the one to reign: whereas also in his kingdom the other becometh poor.

15 I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.

I have seen all the living who walk under the sun, being with the second child that is to stand up in his stead.

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 was no end to all the people, [belonging] to all that have been before them: they also that come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a torture of the spirit.—