Ecclesiastes 4

The Uselessness of Selfish Toil¹Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. ²Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. ³Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

The Vanity of Selfish Toil⁴Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. ⁵The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. ⁶Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. ⁷Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: ⁸There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

The Value of a Friend⁹Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. ¹⁰For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. ¹¹Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? ¹²Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Popularity Passes Away¹³Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. ¹⁴For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. ¹⁵I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. ¹⁶There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.