Ecclesiastes 4 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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

New King James Version

New International Version

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 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.

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

2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier 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 both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil 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.

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 consumes his own flesh.

5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.

6Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

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

7Again I saw something meaningless 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 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 are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

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.

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.

11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

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

12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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

13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

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

14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within 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 that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.

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 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.

New International Version (NIV)

Bible Hub