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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Ecclesiastes 4
4
Is It Better to Be Dead?
1Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears, and I saw that there was no one to comfort them. I saw that cruel people had all the power, and I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt. 2I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive. 3And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.#4:3 in this world Literally, “under the sun.”
Why Work So Hard?
4Then I thought, “Why do people work so hard?” I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. They do this because they are jealous. They don’t want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.#4:4 trying to catch the wind Or “It is very troubling to the spirit.” The word for “troubling” can also mean “craving,” and the word for “spirit” can also mean “wind.” Also in verse 16.
5Some people say, “It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don’t work, you will starve to death.” 6Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.
7Again I saw something else that didn’t make sense: 8I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, “Why am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy my life?” This is also a very bad and senseless thing.
Friends and Family Give Strength
9Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
10If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.
11If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm.
12An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-to-back to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together—it is very hard to break.
People, Politics, and Popularity
13A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings. 14Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country. 15But I have watched people in this life,#4:15 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king. 16Many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is also senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
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