Ecclesiastes 4

1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.

Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.

2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.

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

3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.

Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.

4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:

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

6 “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.

7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.

Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.

8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.

There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!

9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

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

10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.

For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!

11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

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

12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.

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

13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.

Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.

14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.

For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.

15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.

I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.

16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.