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