Ecclesiastes 4

1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had 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 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.

3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is 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 I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after 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 fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

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

6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and chasing after wind.

Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.

7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.

8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

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

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift 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 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

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

12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

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

14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was 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 walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

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 of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after 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.