Ecclesiastes 4

A Threefold Cord Is Not Quickly Broken

← Ecclesiastes 3  ·  Ecclesiastes: all chapters  ·  Ecclesiastes 5 →

The Extortions Beneath the Sun

4:1Again I turned and saw all the extortions committed beneath the sun. Look, the tears of those being extorted, with no one to comfort them! Power was in their extorters’ hands, and they had no one to comfort them.

4:2I praised the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are alive until now.

4:3Better than these two is the one who has not yet come to be, who has not seen the evil work done beneath the sun.

Rivalry and the Handful of Rest

4:4I saw all toil and all courage in work: it is a person’s rivalry with his companion. This too is futility and resolve of spirit.

4:5The fool folded his hands and ate his own flesh.

4:6Better a handful of rest than two handfuls of toil and resolve of spirit.

4:7Again I turned and saw futility beneath the sun.

4:8There is one person with no second, with neither son nor brother. There is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not filled with wealth. For whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of goodness? This too is futility and a grievous distraction.

Two Are Better Than One

4:9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

4:10For if they fall, one will lift his partner. But woe to the one who falls with no second person to lift him!

4:11Also, if two lie down, they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

4:12If the one gains strength, the two will stand against him; a threefold cord is not quickly torn apart.

The Poor and Wise Youth

4:13Better a poor and wise youth than an older and foolish king who no longer knows how to pay attention,

4:14for he will come from the prisoners’ house to reign, though he was born poor in his kingdom.

4:15I saw all the living who walk beneath the sun with the second young man who will stand in his place,

4:16there was no end to all the people, all who came before them; yet those who come last will not rejoice in him. This too is futility and resolve of spirit.

Guard Your Foot When You Go to God’s House

4:17Guard your foot when you go to God’s house, and be near to listen. Your sacrifice is better than the fools’ gift, for they do not know how to do evil.

← Ecclesiastes 3  ·  Ecclesiastes: all chapters  ·  Ecclesiastes 5 →

Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.