Ecclesiastes 4 NKJV ISV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.

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.

2Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

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

3Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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

4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

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.

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

5The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.

6Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

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

7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

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

8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

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.

9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

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

10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

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.

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

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

12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

13Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

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

14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

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

15I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

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

16There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

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.

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