EC-4:1  So I returned, and considered 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.

EC-4:2  Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more

than the

living which are yet alive.

EC-4:3  Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet

been, who hath

not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

EC-4:4  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work,

that for this a

man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and

vexation of spirit.

EC-4:5  The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own

flesh.

EC-4:6  Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the

hands full

[with] travail and vexation of spirit.

EC-4:7  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

EC-4:8  There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea,

he hath

neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his

labour; neither is

his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I

labour, and

bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a

sore travail.

EC-4:9  Two [are] better than one; because they have a good

reward for their

labour.

EC-4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but

woe to him

[that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to

help him up.

EC-4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but

how can one be

warm [alone]?

EC-4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;

 and a

threefold cord is not quickly broken.

EC-4:13  Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and

foolish king, who

will no more be admonished.

EC-4:14  For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he

that is] born

in his kingdom becometh poor.

EC-4:15  I considered all the living which walk under the sun,

with the second

child that shall stand up in his stead.

EC-4:16  [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that

have been

before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him.

Surely this

also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

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