Ecclesiastes 4

1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.

8 There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

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

10 For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.

16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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.

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

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

4 ¶ 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 foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

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

7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity 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 sore travail.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1 I turned, and saw all that were wronged under the sun: and, behold, there were tears of them that were wronged, and had no comforter: and they that wronged them were too mighty to have a comforter.

2 Then I praised the dead which were dead, rather than the living which had life.

3 And he that is not yet is better than both, and is not aware of the evil that is done under the sun.

4 I have seen work and skill in all things: one envieth another. That also is vain and toil.

5 For a fool claspeth his fingers together, and eateth his flesh.

6 It is better to have one hand full of peace than both fists full of trouble and sorrow.

7 I turned, and saw vanity under the sun.

8 He is one, and not one; he hath neither child nor brethren: neither is there an end of his labour, neither are his eyes full of riches. Whom do I labour after, and break off my soul? This also is vain, and wicked toil:

9 Two are better than one: for they enjoy their work well.

10 If a man fall, his companion shall help him up. Woe to him who is alone! If he falls, there is no one to help him up.

11 even if two lie together, they warm themselves; how can' one become warm?

12 One may be overcome, but two may withstand: for a threefold cord is not easily broken.

13 A poor child that is wise is better than an old king that is a fool, and knoweth not how to beware.

14 One cometh out of prison unto the kingdom; and one born in his kingdom is impoverished.

15 And I saw that every living thing that is under the sun walketh by one in the child that shall arise in his stead.

16 And there was no end of the people that went before him, or of them that followed him: yet they were not glad. This also is a vain and grievous thing.