Home Master Index
←Prev   Ecclesiates 4 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


4:1  Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.
4:2  So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.
4:3  But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4:4  I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind.
4:5  The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
4:6  One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
4:7  Then I looked again at futility under the sun.
4:8  There was a man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task.
4:9  Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
4:10  for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up!
4:11  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
4:12  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
4:13  A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction—
4:14  for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
4:15  I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him.
4:16  There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.