Ecclesiastes 4

1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

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.

2 and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

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

3 Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.

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.

4 And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.

5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

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

6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.

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

7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

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

8 There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

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.

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

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

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

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.

11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]

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

12 And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.

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

13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

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.

14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.

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

15 I saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.

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

16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.