Ecclesiastes 4
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
Berean Standard Bible
1But 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.
1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
2Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
3but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
7Again, I saw futility under the sun.
8There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
16There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
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