Ecclesiastes 4 / 12
- 1Again 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.
- 2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
- 3But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
- 4And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 5The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.
- 6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
- 7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
- 8There 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!
- 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
- 10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
- 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
- 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ( Advancement Is Meaningless )
- 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.
- 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
- 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.
- 16There 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.