Ecclesiastes 4 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Evils of Oppression

4 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So (C)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3 But (D)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is (F)futility and striving after wind. 5 The fool (G)folds his hands and (H)consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is (I)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

7 Then I looked again at futility under the sun. 8 There was a man without a [a]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And (K)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an (L)unhappy task.

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10 for if [b]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [c]another to lift him up! 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [d]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [e]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

13 A (N)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [f]instruction— 14 for he has come (O)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who [g]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is (P)futility and striving after wind.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit second
  2. Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
  3. Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit a second
  4. Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
  5. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
  6. Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or warning
  7. Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit stands in his place

Cross references

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:1 : Job 35:9; Ps 12:5; Eccl 3:16; 5:8; Is 5:7
  2. Ecclesiastes 4:1 : Jer 16:7; Lam 1:9
  3. Ecclesiastes 4:2 : Job 3:11-26; Eccl 2:17; 7:1
  4. Ecclesiastes 4:3 : Job 3:11-22; Eccl 6:3; Luke 23:29
  5. Ecclesiastes 4:4 : Eccl 2:21
  6. Ecclesiastes 4:4 : Eccl 1:14
  7. Ecclesiastes 4:5 : Prov 6:10; 24:33
  8. Ecclesiastes 4:5 : Is 9:20
  9. Ecclesiastes 4:6 : Prov 15:16, 17; 16:8
  10. Ecclesiastes 4:8 : Prov 27:20; Eccl 1:8; 5:10
  11. Ecclesiastes 4:8 : Eccl 2:21
  12. Ecclesiastes 4:8 : Eccl 1:13
  13. Ecclesiastes 4:11 : 1 Kin 1:1-4
  14. Ecclesiastes 4:13 : Eccl 7:19; 9:15
  15. Ecclesiastes 4:14 : Gen 41:14, 41-43
  16. Ecclesiastes 4:16 : Eccl 1:14

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4 I turned me to other things, and I saw false challenges, that be done under the sun (and I saw much oppression, that is done under the sun), and the tears of the guiltless, and (that) no man (was a) comforter; and that they destitute, either forsaken, of the help of all men, may not against-stand ...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than t...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Ecclesiastes 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Ecclesiastes 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than t...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practised under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are sti...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them.(A)2 And I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still aliv...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

4 Again, 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. 2 So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3 But most fortunate of all are those ...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

4 Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them. 2 So I thought that those who are already dead ...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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Ecclesiastes 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Oppression, toil, friendlessness4 Again 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.2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died,ar...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) 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.(B)2 And I declared that the dead,(C) who had already ...
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Ecclesiastes 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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Ecclesiastes 4 - New English Translation (NET)

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