Ecclesiastes 4

1Again I looked, and I saw all the oppression that is done under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—and they have no one to comfort them! Power is in the hands of their oppressors, and they have no one to comfort them.

2So I declared the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.

3But better than both is the one who has not yet come into being, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from people’s envy of one another. This too is futile, a chasing of the wind.

5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

6Better one handful with quietness than two handfuls with toil and a chasing of the wind.

7Again I looked, and I saw something futile under the sun:

8There is someone all alone, with no companion; he has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable business.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to the one who is alone when he falls and has no one to lift him up.

11Also, if two lie down together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

12And though someone might overpower one person, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

14For the youth came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in his kingdom.

15I saw all the living who walk under the sun side with the youth, the second one, who would rise in the king’s place.

16There was no end to all the people, to all those he led; yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile, a chasing of the wind.