Ecclesiastes 4

1AgainH7725 I looked, and IH589 consideredH7200 allH3605 the oppressionH6217 taking placeH6213 underH8478 the sunH8121. I sawH2009 the tearsH1832 of the oppressedH6217, and they had noH369 comforterH5162; the powerH3581 lay in the handsH3027 of their oppressorsH6231, and there was noH369 comforterH5162. 2So IH589 admiredH7623 the deadH4191, who had alreadyH3528 diedH4191, aboveH4480 the livingH2416, whoH834H1992 are stillH5728 aliveH2416. 3But betterH2896 than bothH8147 is he whoH834 has notH3808 yetH5728 existedH1961, whoH834 has notH3808 seenH7200 the evilH7451H4639 thatH834 is doneH6213 underH8478 the sunH8121.

4IH589 sawH7200 that allH3605 laborH5999 andH853 successH3788H4639 spring fromH3588H1931 a man’sH376 envyH7068 of his neighborH7453. ThisH2088 tooH1571 is futileH1892 and a pursuitH7469 of the windH7307.

7AgainH7725, IH589 sawH7200 futilityH1892 underH8478 the sunH8121. 8There isH3426 aH259 man all aloneH369H8145, withoutH369 evenH1571 a sonH1121 or brotherH251. And though there is noH369 endH7093 to his laborH5999, his eyesH5869 are stillH1571 notH3808 contentH7646 with his wealthH6239: “For whomH4310 do IH589 toilH6001 and bereaveH2637 my soulH5315 of enjoymentH2896?” ThisH2088 tooH1571 is futileH1892—a miserableH7451H1931 taskH6045.

9TwoH8147 are betterH2896 thanH4480 oneH259, becauseH834 they haveH3426 a goodH2896 returnH7939 for their laborH5999. 10ForH3588 ifH518 oneH259 falls downH5307, his companionH2270 can lift him upH6965; but pityH337 the oneH259 who fallsH5307 withoutH369 anotherH8145 to help him upH6965! 11AgainH1571, ifH518 twoH8147 lie down togetherH7901, they will keep warmH2552; but howH349 can oneH259 keep warm aloneH2552? 12And thoughH518 oneH259 may be overpoweredH8630, twoH8147 can resistH5975. Moreover, a cordH2339 of threeH8027 strands is notH3808 quicklyH4120 brokenH5423.

The Futility of Power

13BetterH2896 is a poorH4542 but wiseH2450 youthH3206 than an oldH2205 but foolishH3684 kingH4428 whoH834 noH3808 longerH5750 knowsH3045 how to take a warningH2094. 14ForH3588 the youth has comeH3318 from the prisonH1004H631 to the kingshipH4427, thoughH3588H1571 he was bornH3205 poorH7326 in his own kingdomH4438.

15I saw thatH7200 allH3605 who livedH2416 and walkedH1980 underH8478 the sunH8121 followedH5973 this second oneH8145, the youthH3206 whoH834 succeededH5975 the king. 16There is noH369 limitH7093 to allH3605 the peopleH5971H3605 whoH834 wereH1961 before themH6440. YetH1571 the successor will notH3808 be celebratedH8055 by those who come even laterH314. ThisH2088 tooH3588H1571 is futileH1892 and a pursuitH7475 of the windH7307.