| 章 |
| 4:1 |
Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed-- with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power-- with no one to comfort them.
|
| 4:2 |
And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive;
|
| 4:3 |
but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
|
| 4:4 |
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
|
| 4:5 |
Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh.
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| 4:6 |
Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind.
|
| 4:7 |
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
|
| 4:8 |
the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. "For whom am I toiling," they ask, "and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
|
| 4:9 |
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
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| 4:10 |
For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
|
| 4:11 |
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
|
| 4:12 |
And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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| 4:13 |
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.
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| 4:14 |
One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.
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| 4:15 |
I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king;
|
| 4:16 |
there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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