1890 Darby's Translation of the Holy Scriptures (DBY)

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 ¶ And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

 4:2 Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

 4:3 and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

 4:4 ¶ And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

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

 4:6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

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

 4:8 There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.

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

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

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

 4:12 And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 4:13 ¶ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

 4:14 For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

 4:15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.

 4:16 [There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.