Ecclesiastes 4
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1So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors. 1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed-- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors-- and they have no comforter.
2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. 2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. 3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless--like chasing the wind. 4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. 5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. 6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: 7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task! 8There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless-- a miserable business!
9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. 10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.
16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind. 16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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Ecclesiastes 3
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