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.

And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.

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

And I am praising the dead who have already died above 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.

And better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been done under the sun.

4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

And I have seen all the labor, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbor. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit.

5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

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

“Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”

7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

And I have turned, and I see a vain thing 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 labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he has not, and there is no end to all his labor! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he does not say], “For whom am I laboring and bereaving my soul of good?” This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

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

The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by 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 raises up his companion, but woe to the one who falls and there is not a second to raise him up!

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how has one heat?

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

And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the 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 poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.

14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place;

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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter do not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and distress of spirit.