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.

And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, 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 praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

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 better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been 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.

And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

And I have turned, and I see 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.

There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.

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 they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his 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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.