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.
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Ecclesiastes 4
4
The Existence of Oppression in the World Makes Human Existence Miserable
1I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun.
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
no one comforts them!
Those who oppress them are powerful—
no one can comfort them!#Literally “And look! The tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforting for them, and from the hand of oppressors of them was power, and there is no comforting for them”
2So I deemed the dead who have already died
more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3But better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been born
and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
People Need Balance in Their Approach to Labor
4I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and another.#Literally “his friend” This also is vanity and chasing wind!
5The fool refuses to work with his hands,
so he has nothing to eat except his own skin!#Literally “The fool folds his hands and eats his flesh”
6Better is one handful with peace
than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
Wealth without Someone with Which to Enjoy It is Futile
7I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun. 8Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself#Literally “his soul” of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!
Friends and Family Can Help One Another in Life
9Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil. 10For if one falls, his companion may help him up. But pity the one who falls and there is no one#Literally “there is not a second” to help him up. 11Also if two lie together, they can keep each other warm.#Literally “and it will be warm for them” But how can one person be warm? 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him.#Literally “And even though he will prevail against him, the one; the second, they will withstand opposite him” A threefold cord is not easily broken!#Literally “will not be broken in haste”
One Must Be Willing to Listen to Counsel
13A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.#Literally “how to be warned” 14For he came out of the prison house to reign, since he was born poor in his kingdom.#Literally “for all in his kingdom he was born poor” 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place. 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before him. Yet the later generation will not rejoice in him, for this also is vanity and chasing wind!
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