Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 4"

Ecclesiastes 4

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.

4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.

7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

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

10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.

11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?

12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.

14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.

16 There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB

1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the shemesh, and, hinei, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no menachem (comforter); and on the side of their oppressors there was ko’ach (power); but they had no menachem (comforter).

2 Wherefore I praised the mesim which are already dead more than the living ones which are yet alive.

3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the ma’aseh harah that is done under the shemesh.

4 Again, I considered all amal, and every kishron hama’aseh (skillful achievement), that such is a simple derivative of kinat ish meirei’eihu (the envy of man of his neighbor). This also is hevel, a chasing after ruach.

5 The kesil foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own basar.

6 Better is a handful with tranquility than both the hands full with amal and chasing after ruach.

7 Then I returned, and I saw under the shemesh this hevel:

8 There was a man all alone, and there was with him neither ben nor ach (brother); yet there was no ketz (end) to all his amal; neither was his ayin satisfied with osher (riches); neither saith he, For whom do I toil, and deprive my nefesh of tovah? This also is hevel, yea, it is an evil matter.

9 Two are better than one because they have a sachar tov for their amal.

10 For if they fall, the echad will lift up his partner, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Also, if two lie down, then they have chom (heat), but how can one be warm alone?

12 Though echad may be overpowered, shnayim shall withstand him; and a khoot hameshulash (threefold cord) is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wise yeled than an old and foolish melech, who will no more be admonished.

14 For out of the bais hasohar he cometh to reign, although he was born a poor man in his malchut (kingdom).

15 I considered all the living ones which walk under the shemesh in the throng of the yeled, that is, the second one that shall enter into the place of the former [melech].

16 There is no ketz of kol haAm, all those at whose head he stands; and yet they who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is hevel and striving for ruach.