Ecclesiastes 4

1 Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. And behold, the tears of oppressed people, and they had no one to comfort them! Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them!

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 So I considered those who are already dead more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3 However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived, the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are done under the sun.

Yea, better is he than either of them, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

6 But better is a handful of profit with quiet work than two handfuls with the work that tries to shepherd the wind.

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor under the sun.

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8 There is the kind of man who is alone. He does not have anyone, no son or brother. There is no end to all his work, and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth. He wonders, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vapor, a bad situation.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9 Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay for their labor.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if one falls, the other can lift up his friend. However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls if there is no one to lift him up.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.

11 If two lie down together, they can be warm, but how can one be warm alone?

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

14 This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.

For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor.

15 I saw everyone who was alive and was walking around under the sun, along with a youth who was to rise up to take his place.

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his position.

16 There is no end to all the people who want to obey the new king, but later many of them will no longer praise him. Surely this situation is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.