1I looked and saw how much people were suffering on this earth. I saw the tears of those who are suffering. They don’t have anyone to comfort them. Power is on the side of those who treat them badly. Those who are suffering don’t have anyone to comfort them.2Then I announced that those who have already died are happier than those who are still alive.3But someone who hasn’t been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That’s because that person hasn’t seen the evil things that are done on earth.4I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.5Foolish people fold their hands and don’t work. And that destroys them.6One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.7Again I saw something on earth that didn’t mean anything.8A man lived all by himself. He didn’t have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn’t happy with what he had. ‘Who am I working so hard for?’ he asked. ‘Why don’t I get the things I enjoy?’ That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it’s a very bad deal!9Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.10Suppose either of them falls down. Then the one can help the other one up. But suppose a person falls down and doesn’t have anyone to help them up. Then feel sorry for that person!11Or suppose two people lie down together. Then they’ll keep warm. But how can one person keep warm alone?12One person could be overpowered. But two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn’t easily broken.
Getting ahead is meaningless
13A poor but wise young man is better off than an old but foolish king. That king doesn’t pay attention to a warning anymore.14The young man might have come from prison to become king. Or he might have been born poor within the kingdom but still became king.15I saw that everyone was following the young man who had become the new king.16At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4
English Standard Version
Evil Under the Sun
1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. (Job 35:9; Ec 3:16; Ec 5:8; Ec 9:11; La 1:2)2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. (Job 3:11)3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (Ec 6:3)4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity[1] and a striving after wind. (Ec 1:14)5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. (Pr 6:10; Pr 24:33; Isa 9:20)6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. (Pr 15:16; Ec 6:5)7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: (Ec 4:1)8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. (Ps 39:6; Pr 27:20; Ec 1:8; Ec 1:13; Ec 2:18; 1Jo 2:16)9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? (1Ki 1:1)12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. (Pr 12:15; Ec 9:15)14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. (Ge 41:14; Ge 41:41)15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that[2] youth who was to stand in the king’s[3] place.16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ec 1:14)