Ecclesiastes 4

1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

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 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

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

3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.

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 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

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 foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.

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

7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

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 work.

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

10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.

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 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?

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

12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

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

13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

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 under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.

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, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

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.