Ecclesiastes 4
1 and to return: again I and to see: see [obj] all [the] oppression which to make: do underneath: under [the] sun and behold tears [the] oppression and nothing to/for them to be sorry: comfort and from hand: themselves to oppress them strength and nothing to/for them to be sorry: comfort
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 and to praise I [obj] [the] to die which/that already to die from [the] alive which they(masc.) alive still [to]
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 and pleasant from two their [obj] which still not to be which not to see: see [obj] [the] deed [the] bad: evil which to make: do underneath: 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 to see: see I [obj] all trouble and [obj] all skill [the] deed: work for he/she/it jealousy man: anyone from neighbor his also this vanity and longing spirit: breath
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 to embrace [obj] hand his and to eat [obj] flesh his
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 pleasant fullness palm quietness from fullness palm trouble and longing spirit: breath
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 and to return: again I and to see: see vanity underneath: under [the] sun
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 there one and nothing second also son: child and brother: male-sibling nothing to/for him and nothing end to/for all trouble his also (eye his *Q(K)*) not to satisfy riches and to/for who? I laborious and to lack [obj] soul: myself my from welfare also this vanity and task bad: harmful he/she/it
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 pleasant [the] two from [the] one which there to/for them wages pleasant in/on/with trouble their
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 that if: except if: except to fall: fall [the] one to arise: raise [obj] companion his and to/for woe! him [the] one which/that to fall: fall and nothing second to/for to arise: raise him
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 also if to lie down: lay down two and to warm to/for them and to/for one how? to warm
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 to prevail him [the] one [the] two to stand: stand before him and [the] thread [the] to do three not in/on/with haste to tear
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 pleasant youth poor and wise from king old and fool which not to know to/for to warn still
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 for from house: home [the] to bind to come out: come to/for to reign for also in/on/with royalty his to beget be poor
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 to see: see [obj] all [the] alive [the] to go: walk underneath: under [the] sun with [the] youth [the] second which to stand: stand underneath: instead him
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 nothing end to/for all [the] people to/for all which to be to/for face: before their also [the] last not to rejoice in/on/with him for also this vanity and striving spirit: breath
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.
