Ecclesiastes 4 NKJV CSB Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

NKJV Parallel CSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]

New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have 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.

2Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.

3Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work 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.

4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for 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 a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.

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

7Again, I saw futility under the sun:

8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

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 reward for their labor.

9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.

10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one 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 be warm alone?

11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?

12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

13Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.

14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

15I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.

16There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for 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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