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 oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
And I praised the dead rather than the living:
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 I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that 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 considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit.
Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Considering I found also another vanity 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 but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
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 fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one 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 prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily 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 child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
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 men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up 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.
The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
