Ecclesiastes 4
1 So 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.
2 Wherefore I
praised the
dead which are
already dead more than the
living which are
yet alive. 3 Yea,
better is he than
both they, which hath not
yet been, who hath not
seen the
evil work that is
done under the
sun. 4 Again, 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. 5 The
fool foldeth his
hands together, and
eateth his own
flesh. 6 Better is an
handful with
quietness, than both the
hands full with
travail and
vexation of
spirit. 7 Then I
returned, and I
saw vanity under the
sun. 8 There
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. 9 Two are
better than
one; because they
have a
good reward for their
labour. 10 For if they
fall, the
one will lift
up his
fellow: but
woe to him that is al
one when he
falleth; for he hath not
another to help him
up.
11 Again, if
two lie
together, then they have
heat: but how can
one be
warm alone?
12 And if
one prevail against him,
two shall
withstand him; and a
threefold cord is not
quickly broken.
13 Better is a
poor and a
wise child than an
old and
foolish king, who
will no more be
admonished.
14 For out of
prison he
cometh to
reign; whereas also he that is
born in his
kingdom becometh
poor.
15 I
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.