Ecclesiastes 4
1Again
I
saw
all the oppressions
that are done
under the sun.
And behold,
the tears
of the oppressed,
and they had no one
to comfort them!
On the side
of their oppressors
there was power,
and there was
no one
to comfort them.
2And
I thought
the dead
who are already dead
more fortunate
than the living
who are still alive.
3But
better than both
is he
who has not yet been
and has
not seen the evil deeds
that are done
under the sun.
4Then I saw
that all toil and
all skill in work
come from a man's envy
of his neighbor.
This also
is vanity
and a striving
after wind.
5The fool
folds his hands and
eats
his own flesh.
6Better is a handful
of quietness
than two hands full
of toil
and a striving
after wind.
7Again,
I saw vanity
under the
sun:
8one person
who has no other,
either
son or brother,
yet
there is no end
to all his toil,
and his eyes are
never
satisfied
with riches,
so that he never asks,
"For whom
am I toiling
and
depriving myself
of pleasure?"
This also
is vanity and
an unhappy business.
9Two are
better than one,
because they have
a good reward
for their toil.
10For
if they fall,
one will
lift up his fellow.
But woe to him
who is alone
when he falls
and has not another
to lift him up!
11Again,
if two lie together,
they keep warm,
but how can one
keep warm alone?
12And
though a man
might prevail
against one
who is alone,
two will withstand him
--a
threefold cord
is not
quickly broken.
13Better was a poor
and wise youth
than an old and foolish king
who no longer knew
how to take advice.
14For he went
from prison
to the throne,
though in his own kingdom
he had been born poor.
15 I saw
all the living
who move about
under the sun,
along with that
[a]
youth
who was to stand
in the king's[b]
place.
16There was no end
of all the people,
all of whom he led.
Yet those who come later
will not rejoice
in him.
Surely this also
is vanity and
a striving after wind.
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