The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ecclesiastes 04
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and
behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and
on the side of their oppressors there was
power; but they had no comforter.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have
been long dead more than the living who
are yet alive.
3 Yes, better than them both is him who
has not yet been, who has not seen the evil
work that is done under the sun.
4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s
neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and
ruins himself.
6 Better is ahandful, withquietness,than
two handfuls with labor and chasing after
wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under
the sun.
8 There is one who is alone, and he has
neither son nor brother. There is no end
to all of his labor, neither are his eyes
satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I
labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?”
This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable
business.
9 Two are better than one, because they
have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his
fellow; but woe to him who is alone when
he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift
him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they
have warmth; but how can one keep warm
alone?
12 If a man prevails against one who
is alone, two shall withstand him; and a
threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than
an old and foolish king who doesn’t know
how to receive admonition any more.
14 For out of prison he came out to be
king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born
poor.
15 I saw all the living who walk under
the sun, that they were with the youth, the
other, who succeeded him.
16 There was no end of all the people,
even of all them over whom he was—yet
those who come after shall not rejoice in
him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.