Ecclesiastes 4
1So I returned, 1 And saw all the oppressions 1 That were done under the sun: 1 And behold the tear of the oppressed, 1 And they had no comforter; 1 And on the side of them that oppressed them was power; 1 But they had no comforter: 1
2And I praised all the dead that had already died 1 More than the living, 1 As many as are alive until now. 1
3Better also than both these 1 Is he who has not yet been, 1 Who has not seen all the evil work 1 That is done under the sun. 1
4And I saw all labor, 1 And all the diligent work, 1 That this is a man’s envy from his neighbor. 1 This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. 1
5The fool folds his hands together, 1 And eats his own flesh. 1
6Better is a handful of rest 1 Than two handfuls of trouble 1 And waywardness of spirit. 1
7So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun. 1
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; 1 Yea, he has neither son nor brother: 1 Yet there is no end to all his labor; 1 Neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; 1 And for whom do I labor, 1 And deprive my soul of good? 1 This is also vanity, 1 And an evil trouble. 1
9Two are better than one, 1 Seeing they have a good reward for their labor. 1
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: 1 But woe to him that is alone when he falls, 1 And there is not a second to lift him up. 1
11Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: 1 But how shall one be warmed alone? 1
12And if one should prevail against him, 1 The two shall withstand him; 1 And a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken. 1
13Better is a poor and wise child 1 Than an old and foolish king, 1 Who knows not how to take heed any longer. 1
14For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, 1 Because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor. 1
15I beheld all the living 1 Who were walking under the sun, 1 With the second youth 1 Who shall stand up in each one’s place. 1
16There is no end to all the people, 1 To all who were before them: 1 And the last shall not rejoice in him: 1 For this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit. 1
17Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; 1 And when thou art near to hear, 1 Let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: 1 For they know not that they are doing evil.