Ecclesiastes 4
New Living Translation
4 Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. 2 So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3 But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.
4 Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
5 “Fools fold their idle hands,
leading them to ruin.”
6 And yet,
“Better to have one handful with quietness
than two handfuls with hard work
and chasing the wind.”
The Advantages of Companionship
7 I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. 8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
The Futility of Political Power
13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. 14 Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. 15 But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth[a] who replaces him. 16 Endless crowds stand around him,[b] but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4
New American Standard Bible
The Evils of Oppression
4 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So (C)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3 But (D)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is (F)futility and striving after wind. 5 The fool (G)folds his hands and (H)consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is (I)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at futility under the sun. 8 There was a man without a [a]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And (K)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an (L)unhappy task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10 for if [b]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [c]another to lift him up! 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [d]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [e]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13 A (N)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [f]instruction— 14 for he has come (O)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who [g]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is (P)futility and striving after wind.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit second
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit a second
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or warning
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit stands in his place
Eclesiastés 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Injusticias de la vida
4 Entonces yo me volví y observé todas las opresiones(A) que se cometen bajo el sol:
Y vi las lágrimas de los oprimidos,
Y no tenían quien los consolara;
En mano de sus opresores estaba el poder,
Y no tenían quien los consolara(B).
2 Así que felicité a los muertos, los que ya murieron,
Más que a los vivos, los que aún viven(C).
3 Pero mejor que ambos está el que nunca ha existido(D),
Que nunca ha visto las malas obras que se cometen bajo el sol.
4 He visto que todo trabajo y toda obra hábil(E) que se hace es el resultado de la rivalidad entre el hombre y su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento[a](F).
5 El necio se cruza de manos(G)
Y devora su propia carne(H).
6 Más vale una mano[b] llena de descanso
Que dos puños llenos de trabajo(I) y correr tras el viento.
7 Entonces yo me volví y observé la vanidad bajo el sol:
8 Había un hombre solo, sin sucesor[c],
Que no tenía hijo ni hermano,
Sin embargo, no había fin a todo su trabajo.
En verdad, sus ojos no se saciaban de las riquezas(J),
Y nunca se preguntó: «¿Para quién trabajo yo(K)
Y privo a mi vida del placer?».
También esto es vanidad y tarea penosa(L).
9 Más valen dos que uno solo,
Pues tienen mejor pago por su trabajo.
10 Porque si uno de ellos cae[d], el otro[e] levantará a su compañero;
Pero ¡ay del que cae cuando no hay otro[f] que lo levante!
11 Además, si dos se acuestan juntos se mantienen calientes[g],
Pero uno solo ¿cómo se calentará(M)?
12 Y si alguien[h] puede prevalecer contra el que está solo,
Dos lo resistirán.
Un cordel de tres hilos no se rompe fácilmente.
13 Mejor es un joven pobre y sabio(N)
Que un rey viejo y necio,
Que ya no sabe recibir consejos.
14 Porque ha salido de la cárcel para reinar(O),
Aunque nació pobre en su reino.
15 He visto a todos los vivientes bajo el sol apresurarse a ir junto al joven sucesor[i] que lo reemplaza[j]. 16 No tenía fin la multitud[k] de todos los que lo[l] seguían, y ni aun los que vendrán después estarán contentos con él; pues también esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento(P).
Footnotes
- Eclesiastés 4:4 O aflicción de espíritu, y así en los vers. 6 y 16.
- Eclesiastés 4:6 Lit. palma.
- Eclesiastés 4:8 Lit. sin un segundo.
- Eclesiastés 4:10 Lit. si ellos caen.
- Eclesiastés 4:10 Lit. uno.
- Eclesiastés 4:10 Lit. un segundo.
- Eclesiastés 4:11 Lit. tienen calor.
- Eclesiastés 4:12 Lit. él.
- Eclesiastés 4:15 Lit. el segundo joven.
- Eclesiastés 4:15 Lit. se coloca en su lugar.
- Eclesiastés 4:16 Lit. todo el pueblo.
- Eclesiastés 4:16 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en heb. los.
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