Ecclesiastes 4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them.(A) 2 And I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive, 3 but better than both is the one who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.(B)
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(C)
5 Fools fold their hands
and consume their own flesh.(D)
6 Better is a handful with quiet
than two handfuls with toil
and a chasing after wind.(E)
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.(F)
The Value of a Friend
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?(G) 12 And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who will no longer take advice.(H) 14 One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.(I) 15 I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that[a] youth who replaced the king;[b] 16 there was no end to all those people whom he led.[c] Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(J)
Ecclesiastes 4
International Standard Version
On the Abuse of Authority
4 Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth.
Look at the tears of the oppressed—
there is no one to comfort them.
Power is on the side of their oppressors;
so they have no comforters.
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
13 A poor but wise youth is better
than an old but foolish king
who will no longer accept correction.
14 The former can come out of prison to reign,
while the latter, even if born to[g] kingship, may become poor.
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.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:3 The Heb. lacks born
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 Lit. envy of a man by his neighbor
- Ecclesiastes 4:5 Lit. folds his hands
- Ecclesiastes 4:5 Lit. eats his own flesh
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit. and his eyes are
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 The Heb. lacks he asks
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 Lit. to his
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit. second child
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit. take his
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 Lit. of the people
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