Ecclesiastes 4

1Again I looked at all the oppression that goes on under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them. 2So I counted the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive. 3But better off than both is the one who has never yet existed and has never seen the evil done under the sun. 4And I saw that all hard work and all skill in work come from people’s envy of one another. This too is a breath and chasing the wind. 5Fools fold their hands and eat their own flesh. 6Better one handful with quiet than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind. 7Again I saw something that is a breath under the sun: 8There is someone all alone, with no son or brother, yet there is no end to all his hard work, and his eyes are never satisfied with wealth. “For whom am I working so hard,” he asks, “and going without anything good?” This too is a breath and a miserable task. 9Two are better than one, since together they get a good return for their hard work. 10If one of them falls, the other can help that one up. But woe to anyone who falls alone, with no one else to help them up! 11And if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12One person alone may be overpowered, but two together can stand up to an attacker, and a cord of three strands does not snap quickly. 13A young man who is poor but wise is better than an old king who is a fool and will no longer listen to warning. 14For the young man came out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in the kingdom he came to rule. 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun follow the young man, the second one, who would rise in the king’s place. 16There was no end to all the people he led, yet those who come later will not be glad about him. This too is a breath and chasing the wind.