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.

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!

2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor 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.

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.

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

Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay 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.

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.

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

If two lie down together, they can be warm, 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.

One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.