Ecclesiastes 4 NLT ISV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.

1Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed— there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.

2So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive.

3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.

3Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.

4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

4Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”

5The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.

6And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” The Advantages of Companionship

6It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.

7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.

7Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

8Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

9Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

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

10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

10If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend—but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up.

11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

11Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm?

12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. The Futility of Political Power

12If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

13A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.

14The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.

15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.

15I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.

16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

16There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.

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