Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.	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!
2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.	2 And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive.
3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.	3 And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.	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.
5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:	5 "The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh"--
6 “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”	6 Better is one handful with tranquility than two with toil and a chase after wind!
7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.	7 Again I found this vanity under the sun:
8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.	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.
9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.	9 Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor.
10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.	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.
11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?	11 So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm?
12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.	12 Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.
13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.	13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;
14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.	14 for from a prison house one comes forth to rule, since even in his royalty he was poor at birth.
15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.	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.
16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.	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.
17 Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.	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.