Ecclesiastes 4 — GNB

4Verse 1Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.^{Verse 2}Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.^{Verse 3}Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.^{Verse 4}And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.^{Verse 5}The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.^{Verse 6}Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.^{Verse 7}Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.^{Verse 8}There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!^{Verse 9}Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.^{Verse 10}For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!^{Verse 11}Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?^{Verse 12}And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.^{Verse 13}Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.^{Verse 14}For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.^{Verse 15}I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.^{Verse 16}There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.