Ecclesiastes 4

1 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!

Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.

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

So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;

3 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.

and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.

4 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.

Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

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

The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

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

Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.

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

Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —

8 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.

Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

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

Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.

10 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.

For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!

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

Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?

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

And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.

13 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.

Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

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

For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.

15 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.

I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —

16 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.

There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.