Ecclesiastes 4

The Oppression of Life

1 Then I looked again at all the oppression under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, but they had no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors.

2 So I said, “The dead are better off than the living who still breathe.”

3 But better than both are those who were never born, who have not seen the evil done under the sun.

The Futility of Toil

4 I saw that all hard work and skill in work comes from one person’s envy of another. That too is meaningless, a chasing after wind.

5 Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.

6 Better one handful with peace than two handfuls with hard chasing and stress.

7 I saw another meaningless thing under the sun:

8 A man all alone, no son or brother, yet he works nonstop, never satisfied, asking, “Who am I working for?” Empty and pointless grind.

The Value of Companionship

9 Two are better than one, they get more done together.

10 If one falls, the other helps him up. But pity the one who falls with no one to lift him.

11 If two lie down, they stay warm; how can one keep warm alone,

12 One alone can be overpowered, but two can defend themselves. A triple-braided cord do not break easy.

The Futility of Power and Popularity

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old foolish king who will not listen anymore.

14 For that youth might rise from poverty to the throne, even if born poor in his kingdom.

15 I saw everyone living under the sun follow that young up-and-comer.

16 But those who come later will not care for him either. That too is meaningless, a chasing after wind.