Ecclesiastes 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 4 ▼
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1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort 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 So I lauded the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 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 But better off than both of them is the one who never has been, who has never 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 have seen that every labor and every success of the work is the result of jealousy between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after 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 folds his hands in embrace and consumes his own flesh. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after 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 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a certain man without a second man, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches—“And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of good?” This too is vanity, and it is a grievous endeavor. 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 one because they have good wages for their labor. 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 either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not a second one to lift 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 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 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 can overpower him who is alone, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. 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 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive warning. 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 he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 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 have seen all the living who walk about under the sun go along with the second lad who stands in place of him. 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 them, and even the ones who will come later will not be glad with him, for this too is vanity and striving after 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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