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.
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.
2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
And I praised the dead rather than the living:
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 I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are 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.
Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
5 The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
6 Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.
7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
Considering I found also another 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 but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
9 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
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!
If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.
11 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?
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 prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily 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 child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.
14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.
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 men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
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.
The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
