Ecclesiastes 4
4
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 "A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul."
7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: "For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?" In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
17 Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.
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Ecclesiastes 4: CPDV
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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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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.