Ecclesiastes 4

1. Then I returned and saw 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 that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; 3. yea, better than them both did I esteem him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4. Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. 5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6. Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind. 7. Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8. There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9. 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 that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. 11. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? 12. And if a man prevail against him that is alone, 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 knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. 14. For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15. I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead. 16. There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, ASV)

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. 2. Therefore I praised the dead who have been long 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. 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. 5. The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. 6. Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. 7. Then I returned and saw 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 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. 9. 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. 11. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? 12. If a man prevails against one who is alone, 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. 14. For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15. I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. 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. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, WEB)

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. ^{side: Heb. hand} 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. ^{every: Heb. all the rightness of work for this: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour} 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. ^{who: Heb. who knoweth not to 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. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, KJV)

1. And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, 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. And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive. 3. And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun. 4. And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. 5. The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh: 6. 'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.' 7. And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun: 8. There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail. 9. The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour. 10. For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up! 11. Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat? 12. And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken. 13. Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more. 14. For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor. 15. I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place; 16. there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, YLT)