Ecclesiastes 4 ISV BSB Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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Berean Study Bible

1Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed— there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

2So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive.

2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

3Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.

3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

5The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.

5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

6It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.

6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

7Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

7Again, I saw futility under the sun.

8Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

10If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend—but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up.

10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

11Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm?

11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

12If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

13A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

14The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.

14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

15I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.

15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.

16There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.

16There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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