Ecclesiastes 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 4 ▼
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1 And I turned, and I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and no one is comforting to them—while from the hand of those oppressing them is strength, and no one is comforting to them. 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. 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 I—and I praised those who were dead, who already had 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. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 and better than both is the one who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work 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. 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—and I have seen all the toil and every skillful deed, that it was the envy of each man from his neighbor. This also is vapor and a striving after 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. 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 is folding his hands and is eating his own flesh. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 Better the fullness of palm with quietness than the fullness of two palms with toil and a striving after the wind. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
7 And I turned, and I saw a vapor under the sun: Again, I saw vanity under the sun: Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There is one, and there is not a second—there is not even a son or brother for him—and there is not end to all his toils; and his eye is not satisfied with wealth: “For whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of good?” This also is vapor, and it is a task of evil. 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 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 the one, because there is for them a good wage for their toil; Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 for if they fall, the one raises up his companion—and woe to him, the one who falls, and there is not a second to raise 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! 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 Also, if two lie down, then there is warmth for them; but for one, how can he keep warm? Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though one may be overpowered, the two can stand against him; and a threefold cord cannot quickly be broken. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better a youth poor and wise than a king old and foolish, who does not know to be warned anymore. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14 For from the house of bondage he came to be king, for even in his kingdom he was born poor. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place. 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 saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before their faces, yet those coming after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vapor and a striving after 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. 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.
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