[[Ecclesiastes 3|<< Ecclesiastes 3]] | [[Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | [[Ecclesiastes 5|Ecclesiastes 5 >>]] ### Ecclesiastes 4 1 SO I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of _such_ _as_ _were_ oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors _there_ _was_ power; but they had no comforter. ^1 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. ^2 3 Yea, better _is_ _he_ than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. ^3 4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This _is_ also vanity and vexation of spirit. ^4 5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. ^5 6 Better _is_ an handful _with_ quietness, than both the hands full _with_ travail and vexation of spirit. ^6 7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. ^7 8 There is one _alone_, and _there_ _is_ not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet _is_ _there_ no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither _saith_ _he_, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This _is_ also vanity, yea, it _is_ a sore travail. ^8 9 ¶ Two _are_ better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. ^9 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him _that_ _is_ alone when he falls; for _he_ _hath_ not another to help him up. ^10 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm _alone?_ ^11 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ^12 13 ¶ Better _is_ a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. ^13 14 For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also _he_ _that_ _is_ born in his kingdom becomes poor. ^14 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. ^15 16 _There_ _is_ no end of all the people, _even_ of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also _is_ vanity and vexation of spirit. ^16