1901 American Standard Version (ASV)

Ecclesiastes 4

1 Vanity is increased unto men by oppression, 4 by envy, 5 by idleness, 7 by covetousness, 9 by solitariness, 13 by wilfulness.

 4:1 ¶ Then I returned and saw 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.

 4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

 4:3 yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

 4:4 ¶ Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

 4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

 4:6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.

 4:7 ¶ Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

 4:8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

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

 4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?

 4:12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 4:13 ¶ Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

 4:14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

 4:15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.

 4:16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.