Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
