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.

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 Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.

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

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.

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 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.

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 a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.

'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'

7 Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.

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

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!

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 labor.

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 his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and 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 an enemy prevail against one, 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 child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, 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 cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.

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

15 I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood 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 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.

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.