Ecclesiastes 4
4
Is It Better to Be Dead?
1Again I saw all the people who were mistreated here on earth.
I saw their tears
and that they had no one to comfort them.
Cruel people had all the power,
and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.
2I decided that the dead
are better off than the living.
3But those who have never been born
are better off still;
they have not seen the evil
that is done here on earth.
Why Work So Hard?
4I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind.
5Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing,
because you will starve to death.
6Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content
with what little you have.
Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more,
and that is like chasing the wind.
7Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:
8I saw a man who had no family,
no son or brother.
He always worked hard
but was never satisfied with what he had.
He never asked himself, “For whom am I working so hard?
Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?”
This also is very sad and useless.
Friends and Family Give Strength
9Two people are better than one,
because they get more done by working together.
10If one falls down,
the other can help him up.
But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls,
because no one is there to help.
11If two lie down together, they will be warm,
but a person alone will not be warm.
12An enemy might defeat one person,
but two people together can defend themselves;
a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.
Fame and Power Are Useless
13A poor but wise boy is better than a foolish but old king who doesn’t listen to advice. 14A boy became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king. 15I watched all the people who live on earth follow him and make him their king. 16Many followed him at first, but later, they did not like him, either. So fame and power are useless, like chasing the wind.
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Ecclesiastes 4: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 4
4
1Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them. 2And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; 3but better than both is the one 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 one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.#4.4 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
5Fools fold their hands
and consume their own flesh.
6Better is a handful with quiet
than two handfuls with toil,
and a chasing after wind.#4.6 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
The Value of a Friend
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. 14One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom. 15I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that#4.15 Heb the second youth who replaced the king;#4.15 Heb him 16there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.#4.16 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.