Ecclesiastes 4

1 And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.

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.

2 And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 And better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been done under the sun.

Yea, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 And I have seen all the labor, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbor. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit.

Again, I considered all labour, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

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

6 “Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.

7 And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:

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

8 There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he has not, and there is no end to all his labor! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he does not say], “For whom am I laboring and bereaving my soul of good?” This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

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 grievous labour.

9 The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labor.

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

10 For if they fall, the one raises up his companion, but woe to the one who falls and there is not a second to raise him up!

For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him to rise.

11 Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how has one heat?

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

12 And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no longer be admonished.

14 For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; though also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place;

I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16 there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter do not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and distress of spirit.

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.