Ecclesiastes 4 So I returned , and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun : and behold the tears of such as were oppressed , and they had no comforter ; and on the side of their oppressors there was power ; but they had no comforter .

KJV_Strongs⁽ⁱ⁾

1 H7725 So I returned [H8804] H7200 , and considered [H8799] H6217 all the oppressions H6213 that are done [H8737] H8121 under the sun H1832 : and behold the tears H6231 of such as were oppressed [H8803] H5162 , and they had no comforter [H8764] H3027 ; and on the side H6231 of their oppressors [H8802] H3581 there was power H5162 ; but they had no comforter [H8764] .

2 H7623 Wherefore I praised [H8764] H4191 the dead [H8801] H3528 which are already H4191 dead [H8804] H2416 more than the living H5728 which are yet H2416 alive.

3 H2896 Yea, better H8147 is he than both H5728 they, which hath not yet H7200 been, who hath not seen [H8804] H7451 the evil H4639 work H6213 that is done [H8738] H8121 under the sun.

4 H7200 Again, I considered [H8804] H5999 all travail H3788 , and every right H4639 work H376 , that for this a man H7068 is envied H7453 of his neighbour H1892 . This is also vanity H7469 and vexation H7307 of spirit.

5 H3684 The fool H2263 foldeth H3027 his hands H2263 together [H8802] H398 , and eateth [H8802] H1320 his own flesh.

6 H2896 Better H3709 is an handful H5183 with quietness H2651 , than both the hands H4393 full H5999 with travail H7469 and vexation H7307 of spirit.

7 H7725 Then I returned [H8804] H7200 , and I saw [H8799] H1892 vanity H8121 under the sun.

8 H3426 There is H259 one H8145 alone, and there is not a second H1121 ; yea, he hath neither child H251 nor brother H7093 : yet is there no end H5999 of all his labour H5869 ; neither is his eye H7646 satisfied [H8799] H6239 with riches H6001 ; neither saith he, For whom do I labour H2637 , and bereave [H8764] H5315 my soul H2896 of good H1892 ? This is also vanity H7451 , yea, it is a sore H6045 travail.

9 H8147 Two H2896 are better H259 than one H3426 ; because they have H2896 a good H7939 reward H5999 for their labour.

10 H5307 For if they fall [H8799] H259 , the one H6965 will lift up [H8686] H2270 his fellow H337 : but woe H259 to him that is alone H5307 when he falleth [H8799] H8145 ; for he hath not another H6965 to help him up [H8687] .

11 H1571 Again H8147 , if two H7901 lie together [H8799] H2552 , then they have heat [H8804] H259 : but how can one H3179 be warm [H8799] alone ?

12 H259 And if one H8630 prevail [H8799] H8147 against him, two H5975 shall withstand [H8799] H8027 him; and a threefold [H8794] H2339 cord H4120 is not quickly H5423 broken [H8735] .

13 H2896 Better H4542 is a poor H2450 and a wise H3206 child H2205 than an old H3684 and foolish H4428 king H3045 , who will [H8804] H2094 no more be admonished [H8736] .

14 H631 For out of prison [H8803] H1004 H3318 he cometh [H8804] H4427 to reign [H8800] H3205 ; whereas also he that is born [H8738] H4438 in his kingdom H7326 becometh poor [H8802] .

15 H7200 I considered [H8804] H2416 all the living H1980 which walk [H8764] H8121 under the sun H8145 , with the second H3206 child H5975 that shall stand up [H8799] in his stead.

16 H7093 There is no end H5971 of all the people H6440 , even of all that have been before H314 them: they also that come after H8055 shall not rejoice [H8799] H1892 in him. Surely this also is vanity H7475 and vexation H7307 of spirit.

ERV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter. ² Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive; ³ yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. ⁴ Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. ⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. ⁶ Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind. ⁷ Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. ⁸ There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. ⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm [alone]? ¹² And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ¹³ Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. ¹⁴ For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. ¹⁵ I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead. ¹⁶ There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.