Ecclesiastes 4 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. [2] Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. [3] Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. [4] Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. [5] The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. [6] Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. [7] Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. [8] There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business. [9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. [10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. [11] Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? [12] If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. [13] Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. [14] For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. [15] I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. [16] There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
King James Version
[1] So I returned, H7725 (QalPerf) and conside§red H7200 (QalImpf) all the oppressions H6217 that are done H6213 (NiphPtc) under the sun: H8121 and behold the tears H1832 of such as were oppressed, H6231 (QalPasPtc) and they had no comforter; H5162 (PielPtc) and on the side H3027 of their oppressors H6231 (QalActPtc) there was power; H3581 but they had no comforter. H5162 (PielPtc) [2] Wherefore I praised H7623 (PielPtc) the dead H4191 (QalPtc) which are already H3528 dead H4191 (QalPerf) more than the living H2416 which are yet H5728 alive. H2416 [3] Yea, better H2896 is he than both H8147 they, which hath not yet H5728 been, who hath not seen H7200 (QalPerf) the evil H7451 work H4639 that is done H6213 (NiphPerf) under the sun. H8121 [4] Again, I considered H7200 (QalPerf) all travail, H5999 and every right H3788 work, H4639§ that for this a man H376 is envied H7068 of his neighbour. H7453§ This is also vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307 [5] The fool H3684 foldeth H2263 his hands H3027 together, H2263 (QalActPtc) and eateth H398 (QalActPtc) his own flesh. H1320 [6] Better H2896 is an handful H3709 with quietness, H5183 than both the hands H2651 full H4393 with travail H5999 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307 [7] Then I returned, H7725 (QalPerf) and I saw H7200 (QalImpf) vanity H1892 under the sun. H8121 [8] There is H3426 one H259 alone, and there is not a second; H8145 yea, he hath neither child H1121 nor brother: H251 yet is there no end H7093 of all his labour; H5999 neither is his eye H5869 satisfied H7646 (QalImpf) with riches; H6239 neither saith he, For whom do I labour, H6001 and bereave H2637 (PielPtc) my soul H5315 of good? H2896 This is also vanity, H1892 yea, it is a sore H7451 travail. H6045 [9] Two H8147 are better H2896 than one; H259 because they have H3426 a good H2896 reward H7939 for their labour. H5999 [10] For if they fall, H5307 (QalImpf) the one H259 will lift up H6965 (HiphImpf) his fellow: H2270 but woe H337 to him that is alone H259 when he falleth; H5307 (QalImpf) for he hath not another H8145 to help him up. H6965 (HiphInf) [11] Again, H1571 if two H8147 lie together, H7901 (QalImpf) then they have heat: H2552 (QalPerf) but how can one H259 be warm H3179 (QalImpf) alone? [12] And if one H259 prevail H8630 (QalImpf) against him, two H8147 shall withstand H5975 (QalImpf) him; and a threefold H8027 (PualPtc) cord H2339 is not quickly H4120 broken. H5423 (NiphImpf) [13] Better H2896 is a poor H4542 and a wise H2450 child H3206 than an old H2205 and foolish H3684 king, H4428 who will H3045 (QalPerf) no more be admonished. H2094 (NiphInf)§ [14] For out of prison H631 (QalPasPtc) he cometh H3318 (QalPerf) to reign; H4427 (QalInf) whereas also he that is born H3205 (NiphPerf) in his kingdom H4438 becometh poor. H7326 (QalActPtc) [15] I considered H7200 (QalPerf) all the living H2416 which walk H1980 (PielPtc) under the sun, H8121 with the second H8145 child H3206 that shall stand up H5975 (QalImpf) in his stead. [16] There is no end H7093 of all the people, H5971 even of all that have been before H6440 them: they also that come after H314 shall not rejoice H8055 (QalImpf) in him. Surely this also is vanity H1892 and vexation H7475 of spirit. H7307
Footnotes
- § 4:1 Heb. hand
- § 4:4a Heb. all the rightness of work
- § 4:4b Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour
- § 4:13 Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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