Ecclesiastes 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 4 ▼
swipe to see more →
BSB_STRONGS
BSB with Strong's
ESV
English Standard Version
KJV
King James Version
NASB
New American Standard Bible
NIV
New International Version
1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of <i>such as were</i> oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors <i>there was</i> power; but they had no comforter. Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, <i>I saw</i> the tears of the oppressed and <i>that</i> they had no one to comfort <i>them;</i> and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort <i>them.</i> Again 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.
2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Yea, better <i>is he</i> than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. But better <i>off</i> than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This <i>is</i> also vanity and vexation of spirit. I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is <i>the result of</i> rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind. And 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.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Better <i>is</i> an handful <i>with</i> quietness, than both the hands full <i>with</i> travail and vexation of spirit. One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. Then I looked again at futility under the sun. Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile— a miserable task. one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. There is one <i>alone</i>, and <i>there is</i> not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet <i>is there</i> no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither <i>saith he</i>, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This <i>is</i> also vanity, yea, it <i>is</i> a sore travail. There was a man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches, <i>and he never asked,</i> “And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task. There 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!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Two <i>are</i> better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him <i>that is</i> alone when he falleth; for <i>he hath</i> not another to help him up. for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm <i>alone</i>? Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm <i>alone?</i> Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three <i>strands</i> is not quickly torn apart. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. Better <i>is</i> a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows <i>how</i> to receive instruction— Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also <i>he that is</i> born in his kingdom becometh poor. for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. <i>There is</i> no end of all the people, <i>even</i> of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also <i>is</i> vanity and vexation of spirit. There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind. There 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page