Ecclesiastes 4

The Evils of Oppression

1Then I looked again at all the acts of 1oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had 2no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2So 3I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3But 4better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

4I have seen that every labor and every 5skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is 6futility and striving after wind. 5The fool 7folds his hands and 8consumes his own flesh. 6One hand full of rest is 9better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

7Then I looked again at futility under the sun. 8There was a man without a 10dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, 11his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And 12for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an 13unhappy task.

9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10for if 14either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not 15another to lift him up! 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they 16keep warm, but 17how can one be warm alone? 12And if 18one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

13A 19poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive 20instruction-- 14for he has come 21out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who 22replaces him. 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is 23futility and striving after wind.