Ecclesiastes 4
4
Oppression, Toil, and Loneliness
1Again I turned and observed all types of oppression that are done under the sun:
Behold, the tears of the oppressed,
and no one was there to comfort them.
There was force from the hand of the oppressors,
and no one was there to comfort them. # Ecc 3:16; 5:8
2And I thought that the dead,
who had already died,
were more fortunate than the living,
who were still alive.
3But better than both
is the one who has not been, # Lk 23:29
who will not observe the evil deeds
that are done under the sun.
4Then I observed that all labor and skill of work come one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. # Ecc 1:14; 2:21
5The fool folds his hands for slothfulness,
and eats his flesh for lack of food. # Isa 9:20
6Better is a full hand of quietness
than handfuls of toil # Pr 15:16–17; 16:8 and a chasing after wind.
7Again, I turned and observed what was vanity under the sun: # Ecc 4:1
8There is a person who is alone,
having neither son nor brother;
there is not an end to all his toil,
and his eyes are not satisfied # Pr 27:20; Ecc 1:8 with riches. He asks,
“For whom do I labor
and cause my life to lack good things?”
This also is vanity
and a burdensome task.
9Two are better than one,
because there is a good reward for their labor together.
10For if they fall,
then one will help up his companion.
But how tragic for the one who falls
and has no one to help him up.
11Again, if two people lie together, they will keep warm;
but how can one keep warm by himself?
12And if someone might overpower another,
two people can withstand him.
A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and wise youth # Ecc 9:15–16 than an old and foolish king, who no longer knows how to receive a warning. 14He went from prison to a throne, # Ge 41:14 although in his eventual kingdom he was born in poverty. 15Then I observed all those who live and walk under the sun, follow the youth who will replace the king. 16There was no limit to all the people, to all who were before him. But all those who were to come later would not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. # Ecc 1:14
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Ecclesiastes 4: MEV
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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