ecclesiastes 4

¹So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of {such as were} oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors {there was} power; but they had no comforter. {side: Heb. hand}

²Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

³Yea, better {is he} than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

⁵The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁶Better {is} an handful {with} quietness, than both the hands full {with} travail and vexation of spirit.

⁷Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

⁸There is one {alone}, and {there is} not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet {is there} no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither {saith he}, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This {is} also vanity, yea, it {is} a sore travail.

⁹Two {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 {that is} alone when he falleth; for {he hath} not another to help him up.

¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm {alone}?

¹²And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹³Better {is} a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. {who...: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished}

¹⁴For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also {he that is} born in his kingdom becometh poor.

¹⁵I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

¹⁶{There is} no end of all the people, {even} of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.