Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 4"

Ecclesiastes 4

Revised Standard Version RSV

1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.

2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive;

3 but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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

6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun:

8 a person who has no one, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

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

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone?

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who will no longer take advice,

14 even though he had gone from prison to the throne or in his own kingdom had been born poor.

15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, as well as that youth, who was to stand in his place;

16 there was no end of all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

GOD'S WORD Translation GW

1 Next, I turned to look at all the acts of oppression that make people suffer under the sun. Look at the tears of those who suffer! No one can comfort them. Their oppressors have [all] the power. No one can comfort those who suffer.

2 I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on.

3 But the person who hasn't been born yet is better off than both of them. He hasn't seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind.

5 A fool folds his hands and wastes away.

6 One handful of peace and quiet is better than two handfuls of hard work and of trying to catch the wind.

7 Next, I turned to look at something pointless under the sun:

8 There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But [they never ask themselves] why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

9 Two people are better than one because [together] they have a good reward for their hard work.

10 If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is [all] alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up.

11 Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm?

12 Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.

13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won't take advice any longer.

14 A young man came out of prison to rule as king, even though he had been born in poverty in that same kingdom.

15 I saw all living people moving about under the sun. They sided with the second young man, the king's successor.

16 There was no end to all those people, everyone whom he led. But those who will come later will not be happy with the successor. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind.