Ecclesiastes 4:1-6 (New International Version)

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Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression¹ that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed-- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors-- and they have no comforter.² 2 And I declared that the dead,³ who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.⁴ 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been,⁵ who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.⁶ 4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.⁷ 5 The fool folds his hands⁸ and ruins himself. 6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil⁹ and chasing after the wind.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)

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