The Teacher, Chapter 4

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun:
I beheld the tears of such as were oppressed,
and they had no comforter;
I beheld the power on the side of their oppressors,
but they had no comforter.

Wherefore I saw that the dead,
which are already dead,
have more than the living,
which are yet alive.

Yea, better than both is he which hath not yet existed,
who hath not yet seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Again, I saw that all travail and every achievement
is done by man’s envy of his neighbour.
This is also vanity and vexation of spirit, a grasping for the wind.

The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.

Better is one handful with quietness,
than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Then I came, and I saw vanity under the sun once more:

There is one man alone, and there is not a second: yea, he hath neither child nor brother. Yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches. “For whom do I labour,” saith he, “and for whom do I deprive my soul of good?”

This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

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

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

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he cometh to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom. I saw all the living who walk under the sun, they were with the second youth, the king's successor. There is no end of all the people over whom he was made king. But they that come after shall not rejoice in him.

Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.