Ecclesiastes 4 NIV NLT Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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1Again 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.

1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.

2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.

2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.

3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.

4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.

5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”

6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

6And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” The Advantages of Companionship

7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.

8There 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!

8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

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

9Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. The Futility of Political Power

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

13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.

15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.

15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.

16There 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.

16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

New International Version (NIV)

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