Ecc4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed-- with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power-- with no one to comfort them.
Ecc4:2 And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive;
Ecc4:3 but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
Ecc4:4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Ecc4:5 Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh.
Ecc4:6 Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind.
Ecc4:7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Ecc4:8 the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. "For whom am I toiling," they ask, "and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
Ecc4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecc4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
Ecc4:11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
Ecc4:12 And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecc4:13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.
Ecc4:14 One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.
Ecc4:15 I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king;
Ecc4:16 there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.