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.
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.
2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago 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.
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.
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 labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after 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 hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
Then I turned and saw other 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 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!
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 labor.
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 his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help 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 heat; but how can one be warm alone?
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 an enemy prevail against one, 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 child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more 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 prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
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 that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood 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 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.
