Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
3 and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.
and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
5 The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.
9 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!
11 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?
12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
15 I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.
16 There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
[There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.
