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 I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
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.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
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.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
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.
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
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.
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was 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 observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes 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.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
