Ecclesiastes 4

International Standard Version

On the Abuse of Authority

4 Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth.

² So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive. ³ Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born,^[a] because he hasn’t experienced evil on earth. ⁴ Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others.^[b] This also is pointless and chasing after the wind. ⁵ The fool crosses his arms^[c] and starves himself.^{[d] 6} It’s better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.

On Aloneness and Companionship

⁷ Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth: ⁸ Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is^[e] never satisfied with wealth. “So for whom do I work,” he asks,^[f] “and deprive myself of pleasure?” This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰ If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend—but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up. ¹¹ Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm? ¹² If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool

¹⁵ I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth^[h] who will take the king’s^[i] place. ¹⁶ There was no end to all of his subjects^[j] or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.