Ecclesiastes 4:1-10 ▼

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.

2 I—and I praised those who were dead, who already had died, above 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!

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.

5 The fool is folding his hands and is eating his own flesh.

6 Better the fullness of palm with quietness than the fullness of two palms with toil and a striving after the wind.

7 And I turned, and I saw a vapor 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.

9 Two are better than the one, because there is for them a good wage for their toil;

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!