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.

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor 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 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 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay 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 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 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

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

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

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

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

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 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 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.