Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 4"

Ecclesiastes 4

Third Millennium Bible TMB

1 So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: And behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.

2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

3 yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 Again, I considered all travail and every right work for which a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of the spirit.

7 Again I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

8 There is one who is alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother, yet there is no end to all his labor. Neither is his eye satisfied with riches; nor saith he, "For whom do I labor and bereave my soul of good?" This is also vanity; yea, it is a sore travail.

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

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, then they have heat, but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threestrand cord is not quickly broken.

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

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child who shall stand up in his stead.

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them; they also who came after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.