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.

1And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors <FI>is<Fi> power, and they have no comforter.

1I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.

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

2And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

2And I praised the dead rather than the living:

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.

3And better than both of them <FI>is<Fi> he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.

3And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are 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.

4And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this <FI>is<Fi> vanity and vexation of spirit.

4Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

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

5The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

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

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

6`Better <FI>is<Fi> a handful <FI>with<Fi> quietness, than two handfuls <FI>with<Fi> labour and vexation of spirit.'

6Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.

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

7And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:

7Considering I found also another 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.

8There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and <FI>he saith not<Fi> , `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

8There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

9The two <FI>are<Fi> better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.

9It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:

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.

10For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!

10If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.

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

11Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?

11And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed?

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

12And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

12And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

13Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

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

14For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

14Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.

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

15I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;

15I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.

16There 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.

16there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

16The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

17(not in this translation)

17(not in this translation)

17Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, who know not what evil they do.