Ecclesiastes 4
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. 2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. 3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. 6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and chasing after wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For 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. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? 12If a man prevails against one who 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 doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. 14For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. 16There 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.
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 4: WEBBE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
PUBLIC DOMAIN. "World English Bible" is trademark of eBible.org.
Ecclesiastes 4
4
Death is better than oppression
1When I next observed all the oppressions that take place under the sun, I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no one to comfort them. Their oppressors wield power—but they have no one to comfort them. 2So I declare that the dead, who have already died, are more fortunate than the living, who are still alive. 3But happier than both are those who have never existed, who haven’t witnessed the terrible things that happen under the sun.
Envy and loneliness
4I also observed that people work hard and become good at what they do only out of mutual envy. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.
5Fools fold their hands and eat their own flesh.
6But better is resting with one handful
than working hard for two fistfuls and chasing after wind.
7Next, I saw under the sun something else that was pointless: 8There are people who are utterly alone, with no companions, not even a child or a sibling. Yet they work hard without end, never satisfied with their wealth. So for whom am I working so hard and depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is pointless and a terrible obsession.
9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. 10If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! 11Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? 12Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.
13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king, who no longer listens to advice. 14He emerged from prison to become king, even though during his rule a poor child#4.14 Possibly the youth of 4:13; or He emerged from prison to become king, even though he was born poor in the kingdom. is born. 15I saw all who live and walk under the sun following the next youth who would rise to take his place. 16There was no counting the number of people he ruled, but those who came later aren’t happy with him. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.