Ecclesiastes 4

1 And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

And 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 [is] power, and they have no comforter.

2 Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

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

3 and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.

4 And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

And 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 [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

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

6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'

7 And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

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

8 There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.

There 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 [he saith not], 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

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

The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!

For 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!

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

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

12 And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

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

14 For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

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

15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.

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

16 [There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.

there 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.