Eclesiastes 4

¹ SoHe makes here another discourse with himself concerning the tyranny of them that oppressed the poor.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.

² Wherefore I praised theBecause they are no longer subject to these oppressions.dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ Yea,He speaks according to the judgment of the flesh which cannot abide to feel or see troubles.better [is he] than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴ Again, I considered all labour, and everyThe more perfect that the work is, the more it is envied by the wicked.right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, andFor idleness he is compelled to destroy himself.eateth his own flesh.

⁶ Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.

⁷ Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.

⁸ There is one alone, & there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.

⁹ As when man is alone, he can neither help himself nor others, he shows that men should live in mutual society to the intent that they may be profitable one to another, and that their things may increase.Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

¹⁰ For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.

¹¹ Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?

¹² And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefoldBy this proverb he declares how necessary it is, that men should live in society.cord is not quickly broken.

¹³ Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.

¹⁴ For out ofThat is, from a poor and base estate or out of trouble and prison as Joseph did, (Gen_41:14).prison he cometh to reign; though also [he that is]Meaning, that is born a king.born in his kingdom becometh poor.

¹⁵ I considered all the living who walk under the sun,Who follow and flatter the king's son, or him that will succeed to enter into credit with them in hope of gain.with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

¹⁶ [There is] noThey never cease by all means to creep into favour, but when they do not obtain their greedy desires they think themselves abused, as others have been in times past, and so care no more for him.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.