Ecclesiastes 4

1Then I turned and saw all those oppressed under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter. Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and they had no comforter.

2And I considered the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.

3But better than both of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil deed that is done under the sun.

4And I saw that all labor and all skillful work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This too is vanity and a chasing after wind.

5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

6Better is a handful with rest than two handfuls with toil and chasing after wind.

7Then I turned and saw vanity under the sun:

8There is one man, and he has no second; he has neither son nor brother, and there is no end to all his labor. Yet his eyes are not satisfied with wealth: “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of good?” This too is vanity and a grievous business.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion; but woe to the one who falls and there is no second to lift him up.

11Again, if two lie down together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

12And if someone overpowers one, two will stand against him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to heed warning.

14For he came out of prison to reign, though even in his kingdom he had been born poor.

15I saw all the living, those walking under the sun, with the second youth who would stand in his place.

16There was no end to all the people, to all who were before them; yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. For this too is vanity and a chasing after wind.

17Guard your steps when you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.