Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Again I considered all the oppressions that take place under the sun: the tears of the victims with none to comfort them! From the hand of their oppressors comes violence, and there is none to comfort them!	1 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.
2 And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive.	2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun.	3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Then I saw that all toil and skillful work is the rivalry of one man for another. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.	4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 "The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh"--	5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Better is one handful with tranquility than two with toil and a chase after wind!	6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 Again I found this vanity under the sun:	7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 a solitary man with no companion; with neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and riches do not satisfy his greed. "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things?" This also is vanity and a worthless task.	8 There 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 eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor.	9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up.	10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm?	11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.	12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;	13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 for from a prison house one comes forth to rule, since even in his royalty he was poor at birth.	14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 Then I saw all those who are to live and move about under the sun with the heir apparent who will succeed to his place.	15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end to all these people, to all over whom he takes precedence; yet the later generations will not applaud him. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.	16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
17 Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Let your approach be obedience, rather than the fools' offering of sacrifice; for they know not how to keep from doing evil.