Ecclesiastes 4 – Bible | Equip God’s People

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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 consideredH7200(QalImpf) all the oppressionsH6217 that are doneH6213(NiphPtc) under the sun:H8121 and behold the tearsH1832 of [such as were] oppressed,H6231(QalPasPtc) and they had no comforter;H5162(PielPtc) and on the sideH3027 of their oppressorsH6231(QalActPtc) [there was] power;H3581 but they had no comforter.H5162(PielPtc) ^[2] Wherefore I praisedH7623(PielPtc) the deadH4191(QalPtc) which are alreadyH3528 deadH4191(QalPerf) more than the livingH2416 which are yetH5728 alive.H2416 ^[3] Yea, betterH2896 [is he] than bothH8147 they, which hath not yetH5728 been, who hath not seenH7200(QalPerf) the evilH7451 workH4639 that is doneH6213(NiphPerf) under the sun.H8121 ^[4] Again, I consideredH7200(QalPerf) all travail,H5999 and every rightH3788 work,H4639 that for this a manH376 is enviedH7068 of his neighbour.H7453 This [is] also vanityH1892 and vexationH7469 of spirit.H7307 ^[5] The foolH3684 foldethH2263 his handsH3027 together,H2263(QalActPtc) and eatethH398(QalActPtc) his own flesh.H1320 ^[6] BetterH2896 [is] an handfulH3709 [with] quietness,H5183 than both the handsH2651 fullH4393 [with] travailH5999 and vexationH7469 of spirit.H7307 ^[7] Then I returned,H7725(QalPerf) and I sawH7200(QalImpf) vanityH1892 under the sun.H8121 ^[8] There isH3426 oneH259 [alone], and [there is] not a second;H8145 yea, he hath neither childH1121 nor brother:H251 yet [is there] no endH7093 of all his labour;H5999 neither is his eyeH5869 satisfiedH7646(QalImpf) with riches;H6239 neither [saith he], For whom do I labour,H6001 and bereaveH2637(PielPtc) my soulH5315 of good?H2896 This [is] also vanity,H1892 yea, it [is] a soreH7451 travail.H6045 ^[9] TwoH8147 [are] betterH2896 than one;H259 because they haveH3426 a goodH2896 rewardH7939 for their labour.H5999 ^[10] For if they fall,H5307(QalImpf) the oneH259 will lift upH6965(HiphImpf) his fellow:H2270 but woeH337 to him [that is] aloneH259 when he falleth;H5307(QalImpf) for [he hath] not anotherH8145 to help him up.H6965(HiphInf) ^[11] Again,H1571 if twoH8147 lie together,H7901(QalImpf) then they have heat:H2552(QalPerf) but how can oneH259 be warmH3179(QalImpf) [alone]? ^[12] And if oneH259 prevailH8630(QalImpf) against him, twoH8147 shall withstandH5975(QalImpf) him; and a threefoldH8027(PualPtc) cordH2339 is not quicklyH4120 broken.H5423(NiphImpf) ^[13] BetterH2896 [is] a poorH4542 and a wiseH2450 childH3206 than an oldH2205 and foolishH3684 king,H4428 who willH3045(QalPerf) no more be admonished.H2094(NiphInf) ^[14] For out of prisonH631(QalPasPtc) he comethH3318(QalPerf) to reign;H4427(QalInf) whereas also [he that is] bornH3205(NiphPerf) in his kingdomH4438 becometh poor.H7326(QalActPtc) ^[15] I consideredH7200(QalPerf) all the livingH2416 which walkH1980(PielPtc) under the sun,H8121 with the secondH8145 childH3206 that shall stand upH5975(QalImpf) in his stead. ^[16] [There is] no endH7093 of all the people,H5971 [even] of all that have been beforeH6440 them: they also that come afterH314 shall not rejoiceH8055(QalImpf) in him. Surely this also [is] vanityH1892 and vexationH7475 of spirit.H7307

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