Ecclesiastes 4

4Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. ^dLook at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. ²So I admired the dead, ^ewho have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. ³But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, ^fwho has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

The Loneliness of Wealth

⁴I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. ^gThis too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ^h

⁵The fool folds his arms ⁱ

and consumes his own flesh. ^j

⁶Better one handful with rest

than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. ^k

⁷Again, I saw futility under the sun: ⁸There is a person without a companion, ^lwithout even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. ^m“So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

⁹Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. ¹⁰For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. ¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? ⁿ¹²And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

¹³Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. ^o14For he came from prison to be king, ^peven though he was born poor in his kingdom. ¹⁵I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow ^qa second youth who succeeds him. ¹⁶There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ^r