Ecclesiastes 4

AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)

NIVUK — New International Version - UK Bible (NIVUK)

Verse 1

Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed –
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors –
and they have no comforter.

Verse 2

So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.

And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.

Verse 3

But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

But better than both
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.

Verse 4

I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Verse 5

The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].

Fools fold their hands
and ruin themselves.

Verse 6

One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.

Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.

Verse 7

Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

Verse 8

There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.

there was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked,
    ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’
This too is meaningless –
    a miserable business!

Verse 9

Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labour:

Verse 10

for if ^[a]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up.

if either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.

Verse 11

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

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Verse 12

And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement is meaningless

Verse 13

A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who ^[b]no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—

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

Verse 14

for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

Verse 15

I have seen all the living under the sun join with the second youth (the king’s acknowledged successor) who replaces him.

I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.

Verse 16

There is no end to all the people; to all who were before them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness) and chasing after the wind.

There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.