Ecclesiastes 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 4 ▼
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GENEVA
Geneva Bible of 1587
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, & none comforteth 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 Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue. 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 I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne. 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 Also I beheld all trauaile, & all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie & vexation of spirit. 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 foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit. 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 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There is one alone, & there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile. 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 then one: for they haue better wages for their labour. 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 fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp. 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 sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate? 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 if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily 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 is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished. 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 out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore. 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 behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp 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 none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit. 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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