Ecclesiastes 4:1-8

1Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

2So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.

3But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.

5The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].

6One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.

7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

8There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.