Noyes - Ecclesiastes - 4

4:1  Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.

4:2  Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.

4:3  Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.

4:4  And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

4:5  The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.

4:6  Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.

4:7  Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.

4:8  There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. "For whom, then [saith he], do I labor and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!

4:9  Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!

4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?

4:12  And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

4:13  Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.

4:14  For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.

4:15  I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.

4:16  There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.