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 have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet 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 better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been 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.
And I have seen all the labor, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbor. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit.
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
“Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing 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, and there is not a second; even son or brother he has not, and there is no end to all his labor! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he does not say], “For whom am I laboring and bereaving my soul of good?” This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by 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 they fall, the one raises up his companion, but woe to the one who falls and there is not a second to raise 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 down, then they have heat, but how has one heat?
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord 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 and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.
14 For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been 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 are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place;
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 end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter do not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and distress of spirit.
