Ecclesiastes 4

4So ^aI returned, and considered all the ^boppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had ^cno comforter; and on the ^†side of their oppressors there was power; but they had ^cno comforter. ²Wherefore ^dI praised the dead which are ^ealready dead more than the living which are ^fyet alive. ³Yea, better is he than both they, ^dgwhich hath not ^fyet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴Again, I considered all travail, and ^†every right work, that ^†for this a man ⁱis envied of his neighbour. This is also ^jvanity and vexation of spirit. ⁵The fool ^kfoldeth his hands together, and ^leateth his own flesh. ^6mBetter is an handful with ⁿquietness, than both the hands full with travail and ^jvexation of spirit.

⁷Then ^oI returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. ⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his ^peye satisfied with riches; neither ^qsaith he, ^rFor whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore ^stravail. ⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but ^twoe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but ^uhow can one be warm alone? ¹²And if one ^xprevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a ^ythreefold cord is not quickly broken.

^13zBetter is a ^apoor and a wise child than an old and ^bfoolish king, ^†who will no more be ^cadmonished. ^14dFor out of ^eprison he cometh to reign; ^fwhereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. ¹⁵I considered all the living which walk under the sun, ^gwith the second child that shall stand up in his stead. ¹⁶There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: ^hthey also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is ⁱvanity and vexation of spirit.