Ecclesiastes 4

1 Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have 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, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;

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

3 and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was 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 Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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 dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6 Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.

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

7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

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 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.

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

10 For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!

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 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?

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

12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.

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

13 Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

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

14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.

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, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —

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 to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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.