Ecclesiastes 4

1 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.

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:

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

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

3 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.

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.

4 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.

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

5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

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

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

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

7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

8 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.

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 labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

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

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

10 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

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.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

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

16 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.

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.