Ecclesiastes

4 Then again I considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun,—and lo! the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.

2 So I pronounced happy the dead who were already dead,—more than the living who were living still;

3 and as better than both him who had not yet come into being,—who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.

4 Then saw I all the toil and all the skill of the work, that for this a man was envied of his neighbour,—even this was vanity and a feeding on wind.

5 The dullard claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

6 Better a handful—with quietness,—than both hands full—with toil and feeding on wind.

7 Then again I looked at a vain thing under the sun:—

8 Here is one without a second, even son or brother he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye is not satisfied with riches,—neither [saith he] For whom am I toiling and letting my soul want good? Even this was vanity, yea a vexatious employment it was!

9 Better are two than one,—in that they have a good reward for their toil.

10 For if the one should fall [the other] would raise up his companion,—but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!

11 Moreover if two lie together then have they warmth,—but how can one have warmth?

12 And though an enemy should prevail against one two might make a stand before him,—and a threefold cord cannot soon be broken.

13 Better a boy poor and wise,—than a king old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

14 For out of prison came he forth to reign, yea even in his own kingdom was he born poor.

15 I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun,—[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place:—

16 There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet they who should come later would not rejoice in him,—surely even this was vanity and a feeding on wind.