Ecclesiastes 4
1 SO 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 which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which 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 travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity 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 fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
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; for he hath not another to help 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 heat: 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 one prevail against him, 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 a wise child than an old and foolish king, who 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 prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall 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 is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity 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.
