Ecclesiastes 4

1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression committed under the sun. Look at the tears of the oppressed: they had no comforter. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and they had no comforter. 2 I praised the dead who had already died more than the living who are still alive. 3 Better than both is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil work done under the sun. 4 I saw that all toil and all the courage of work come from one person’s envy of another. This too is futile and a restless striving of spirit. 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6 Better is one handful of rest than two handfuls of toil and restless striving of spirit.

7 Again I looked and saw futility under the sun: 8 There is one person alone, with no companion—no son and no brother—yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. “For whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of good?” This too is futile and a troubling distraction.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 If they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls alone, with no companion to lift him up. 11 If two lie down together, they keep warm, but how can one person keep warm alone? 12 If someone overpowers one of them, the two can withstand him. A three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

13 A poor, wise child is better than an old, foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. 14 For the child will come from prison to reign, because even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun alongside the second youth who will stand in the other’s place. 16 There was no end to all the people, to all who came before them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a restless striving of spirit. 17 Watch your step whenever you go to God’s house. Draw near to listen. Your sacrifice is better than the gift of fools, for they do not know they are doing evil.