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 turned about, and beheld all the oppressed that are made so under the sun: and, behold, there are the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors they suffer violence; and they have no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

Thereupon praised I the dead that are already dead, more than the living who are still 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 as happier than both of them, him who hath not yet come into being, who hath not seen the evil-doing that is 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 beheld all the toil, and all the energy in doing, that it is [from] the envy of one man of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

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

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth 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 of quiet, than both the hands full of toil and torture of spirit.

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

Then I turned about, and I saw a 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 one alone, and he hath not a companion; yea, he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end to all his toil; his eye also is not satisfied with riches. Yet for whom do I toil, and deprive my soul of good? Also this is vanity, yea, it is a bad employment.

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

Two are better than one; because they will 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 they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to the single one that falleth; for he hath no companion to lift him up.

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

Also, if two lie together, then will they become warm; but how can one person alone become warm?

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

And if a man could overpower him, the single one, two would stand up against him: and a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn asunder.

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 a wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to be admonished any more.

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

For out of the prison cometh the one to reign: whereas also in his kingdom the other becometh 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 walk under the sun, being with the second child that is to stand up in his stead.

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, [belonging] to all that have been before them: they also that come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a torture of the spirit.—