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

I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY]. I saw the tears of people who were (oppressed/treated cruelly) and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.

2 and to praise I [obj] [the] to die which/that already to die from [the] alive which they(masc.) alive still [to]

[So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.

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

And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, [because] those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the 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 also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, [and I concluded that] this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, [like] chasing the wind.

5 [the] fool to embrace [obj] hand his and to eat [obj] flesh his

Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.

6 pleasant fullness palm quietness from fullness palm trouble and longing spirit: breath

[So I say], “It is better to be content with not having much money, than to work very hard and try to get a lot of money, which is [as useless as] chasing the wind.”

7 and to return: again I and to see: see vanity underneath: under [the] sun

I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.

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

There are men who live alone; they do not have a wife or children or any brothers living with them; every day they work [very hard], without stopping, to get a lot of money, but they are never satisfied with the things that they have. They never ask [themselves], “Why am I working very hard to earn more money? Why am I not doing things that would cause me to be happy?” What they do also seems senseless.

9 pleasant [the] two from [the] one which there to/for them wages pleasant in/on/with trouble their

Having someone [work] with you is better than being by yourself [all the time]. If you have a friend, he can help you to do your 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 you fall down, he can help you get up again. But if you fall down when you are alone, it will be difficult for you, because there will be no one to help you stand up.

11 also if to lie down: lay down two and to warm to/for them and to/for one how? to warm

Similarly, if two people sleep together, they can keep each other warm. But someone who sleeps alone will certainly not [RHQ] be warm.

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 who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person, but two people can help each other and (resist/defend themselves against) someone who attacks them. [Three people can defend themselves even more easily], [like] a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break [than a rope made from two cords].

13 pleasant youth poor and wise from king old and fool which not to know to/for to warn still

A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good 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

It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.

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

But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.

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

Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, [too]. So it is all senseless, [like] chasing after the wind.