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.
