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
Lexham English Bible
The Existence of Oppression in the World Makes Human Existence Miserable
4 I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun.
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
no one comforts them!
Those who oppress them are powerful—
no one can comfort them![a]
2 So I deemed the dead who have already died
more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 But better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been born
and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
People Need Balance in Their Approach to Labor
4 I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and another.[b] This also is vanity and chasing wind!
5 The fool refuses to work with his hands,
so he has nothing to eat except his own skin![c]
6 Better is one handful with peace
than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
Wealth without Someone with Which to Enjoy It is Futile
7 I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun. 8 Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself[d] of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!
Friends and Family Can Help One Another in Life
9 Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil. 10 For if one falls, his companion may help him up. But pity the one who falls and there is no one[e] to help him up. 11 Also if two lie together, they can keep each other warm.[f] But how can one person be warm? 12 Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him.[g] A threefold cord is not easily broken![h]
One Must Be Willing to Listen to Counsel
13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.[i] 14 For he came out of the prison house to reign, since he was born poor in his kingdom.[j] 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before him. Yet the later generation will not rejoice in him, for this also is vanity and chasing wind!
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:1 Literally “And look! The tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforting for them, and from the hand of oppressors of them was power, and there is no comforting for them”
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 Literally “his friend”
- Ecclesiastes 4:5 Literally “The fool folds his hands and eats his flesh”
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Literally “his soul”
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Literally “there is not a second”
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Literally “and it will be warm for them”
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “And even though he will prevail against him, the one; the second, they will withstand opposite him”
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “will not be broken in haste”
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Literally “how to be warned”
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 Literally “for all in his kingdom he was born poor”
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