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.

1. I considered also how much oppression there is under the sun: the tears of the oppressed and no one to console them, the violence of the oppressors and no one to hold them back.

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

2. More fortunate are the dead for being dead, than the living who have to live,

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.

3. and even more fortunate than both is the one not yet born who has not seen the abuses 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.

4. I saw that all that is done, all that succeeds, results from rivalry with the neighbor: all is meaningless and chasing the wind.

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

5. The fool folds his arms and eats his meat.

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

6. Yet better half a fistful of rest than fistfuls of toil and chasing the wind.

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

7. I saw another senseless thing 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.

8. a man alone, without son or brother, working endlessly, his greed never satisfied with wealth: "For whom do I work and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is nonsense and mistaken investment.

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

9. Happier two than one alone, for their work brings a higher salary,

10. For 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.

10. and when one falls the other lifts up his companion. Unfortunate he who is alone and has no one to lift him up.

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

11. Moreover it's warmer with two in bed; how can one alone be warm?

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

12. One person may be overcome by an aggressor, but two can easily oppose him; triple-stranded thread is not easily broken.

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

13. Better a youth who is poor and wise than a fool of an old king who shuns advice.

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

14. He may even pass from prison to the throne, though born poor in his kingdom.

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

15. I saw all who live under the sun follow the youth who replaced the latter and there was no end to the people who sided with him.

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.

16. And yet those who will come after will not be satisfied. This too makes no sense; it's nothing but chasing wind.

17.

17. Watch your step when you go to God's house; it's a better offering to listen, than to present sacrifices as do the fools; for they do not know the evil they do.