Ecclesiastes 4

1 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.

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!

2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

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

3 Yea, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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.

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

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.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him to rise.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; though also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

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

15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

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.

16 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.

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.