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.
Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
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 better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was 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.
Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
5 The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
7 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
Then again, I, looked at 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.
Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
Better are two, than one, —in that they 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 the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
13 Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
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 prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
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 were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s 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 was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
