Ecclesiastes 4
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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.1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.
2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.
3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
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.4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person's jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.
6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
7Again, I saw futility under the sun.7Again, I saw futility under the sun:
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.8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "Who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself of good things?" This too is futile and a miserable task.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.
10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.
11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?
12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.
14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.
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.16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
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Ecclesiastes 3
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