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.
And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
And I am praising the dead who have already died above 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.
And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been 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.
And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
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] labour and vexation of spirit.'
7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing 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, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
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 raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!
11 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?
12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily 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 hath not known to be warned any more.
14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been 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 have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
