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.
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 Yea, better is he than either of them, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are 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.
Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.
If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his position.
I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
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.
The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
