Ecclesiastes 4

1 But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.

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 praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;

So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;

3 but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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 Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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

The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.

Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.

7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —

8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.

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 than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

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 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?

12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly 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 poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

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 prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.

For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.

15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.

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 was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.