Ecclesiastes 4

1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;3 yea, better than them both did I esteem him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.4 Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4

Evil Oppression on Earth

1 Sots I again consideredt all the oppressiont that continually occurst on earth.t
This is what I saw:t
The oppressedt were in tears,t but no one was comforting them;
no one deliverst them from the power of their oppressors.t

2 So I consideredt those who are dead and gonet
more fortunate than those who are still alive.t

3 But better than both is the one who has not been bornt
and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.t

Labor Motivated by Envy

4 Then I consideredt all the skillful workt that is done:
Surely it is nothing more thant competitiont between one person and another.t
This also is profitless – liket chasing the wind.

5 The fool folds his hands and does no work,t
so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.t

6 Better is one handful with some rest
than two hands full of toils and chasing the wind.

Labor Motivated by Greed

7 Sot I again consideredt anothert futile thing on earth:t

8 A man who is all alone with no companion,t
he has no children nor siblings;t
yet there is no end to all his toil,
and het is never satisfied with riches.
He laments,t “For whom am I toiling and depriving myselft of pleasure?”t
This also is futile and a burdensome task!t

Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared

9 Two people are better than one,
because they can reapt more benefitt from their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will help his companion up,
but pityt the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,
but how can one person keep warm by himself?

12 Although an assailant may overpowert one person,
two can withstand him.
Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking

13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king
who no longer knows how to receive advice.

14 For he came out of prisont to become king,
even though he had been born poor in what would become hist kingdom.

15 I considered all the living who walk on earth,t
as well as the successort who would ariset in his place.

16 There is no end to all the peoplet nor to the past generations,t
yet future generationst will not rejoice in him.
This also is profitless and liket chasing the wind.