Ecclesiastes 4
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Miseries from oppression | ||
| And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter. | Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. | |
Verse 1 WEB Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. KJV 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. TSK I returned: job 6:29, mal 3:18; and considered: ec 3:16, ec 5:8, ec 7:7, ex 1:13,14,16,22, ex 2:23,24, ex 5:16-19, de 28:33,48, jud 4:3, jud 10:7,8, ne 5:1-5, job 24:7-12, ps 10:9,10, pr 28:3,15,16, isa 5:7, isa 51:23, isa 59:7,13-15, mal 3:5; the tears: ps 42:3,9, ps 80:5, ps 102:8,9, mal 2:13, jas 5:4; they had: job 16:4, job 19:21,22, ps 69:20, ps 142:4, pr 19:7, la 1:2,9, mt 26:56, 2ti 4:16,17 |
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| So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life. | Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. | |
Verse 2 WEB Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. KJV Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. TSK Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.: ec 2:17, ec 9:4-6, job 3:17-21 |
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| Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun. | Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | |
Verse 3 WEB Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. KJV 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. TSK better: ec 6:3-5, job 3:10-16, job 10:18,19, jer 20:17,18, mt 24:19, lu 23:29; who: ec 1:14, ec 2:17, ps 55:6-11, jer 9:2,3 |
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troubles from envy | ||
| And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind. | Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | |
Verse 4 WEB Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. KJV 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. TSK every, etc: ge 4:4-8, ge 37:2-11, 1sa 18:8,9,14-16,29,30, pr 27:4, mt 27:18, ac 7:9, jas 4:5, 1jo 3:12; This is: ec 4:16, ec 1:14, ec 2:21,26, ec 6:9,11, ge 37:4,11 |
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| The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food. | The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. | |
Verse 5 WEB The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. KJV The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. TSK fool: pr 6:10,11, pr 12:27, pr 13:4, pr 20:4, pr 24:33,34; eateth: job 13:14, pr 11:17, isa 9:20 |
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| One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind. | Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. | |
Verse 6 WEB Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. KJV Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. TSK Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.: ps 37:16, pr 15:16,17, pr 16:8, pr 17:1 |
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The folly of covetousness | ||
| Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun. | Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. | |
Verse 7 WEB Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. KJV Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. TSK Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.: ec 4:1, ps 78:33, zec 1:6 |
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| It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work. | There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business. | |
Verse 8 WEB There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business. KJV 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. TSK one: ec 4:9-12, ge 2:18, isa 56:3-5; he hath: ge 15:2,3; no: isa 5:8; is his: ec 1:8, ec 5:10, pr 27:20, hab 2:5-9, 1jo 2:16; For: ps 39:6, isa 44:19,20, lu 12:20; it is: ec 1:13, ec 2:23, isa 55:2, mt 11:28 |
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The advantages of mutual assistance | ||
| Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. | |
Verse 9 WEB Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. KJV Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. TSK are: ge 2:18, ex 4:14-16, nu 11:14, pr 27:17, hag 1:14, mr 6:7, ac 13:2, ac 15:39,40, 1co 12:18-21; a good: ru 2:12, joh 4:36, 2jo 1:8 |
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| And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper. | For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. | |
Verse 10 WEB For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. KJV 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. TSK if: ex 32:2-4,21, de 9:19,20, 1sa 23:16, 2sa 11:27, 2sa 12:7-14, job 4:3,4, isa 35:3,4, lu 22:31,32, ga 2:11-14, ga 6:1, 1th 4:18, 1th 5:11; but: ge 4:8, 2sa 14:6 |
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| So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself? | Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? | |
Verse 11 WEB Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? KJV Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? TSK Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?: 1ki 1:1,2 |
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| And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken. | If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | |
Verse 12 WEB If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. KJV And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. TSK and a: 2sa 23:9,16,18,19,23, da 3:16,17, eph 4:3 |
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the changes of royalty | ||
| A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others. | Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. | |
Verse 13 WEB Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. KJV Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. TSK is a poor: ec 9:15,16, ge 37:2, pr 19:1, pr 28:6,15,16; will no more be: 1ki 22:8, 2ch 16:9,10, 2ch 24:20-22, 2ch 25:16 |
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| Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom. | For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. | |
Verse 14 WEB For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. KJV For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. TSK For out: ge 41:14,33-44, job 5:11, ps 113:7,8; also: 1ki 14:26,27, 2ki 23:31-34, 2ki 24:1,2,6,12, 2ki 25:7,27-30, la 4:20, da 4:31 |
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| I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king. | I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. | |
Verse 15 WEB I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. KJV I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. TSK child: 2sa 15:6 |
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| There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind. | There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. | |
Verse 16 WEB There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. KJV 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. TSK no end: 2sa 15:12,13, 1ki 1:5-7,40, 1ki 12:10-16; they also: jud 9:19,20, 2sa 18:7,8, 2sa 19:9; this: ec 1:14, ec 2:11,17,26 |
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