4:1  Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which took place under the sun And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors power accumulated, but they had no one to comfort them.

4:2  So I congratulated the dead who had died already dead more than the living who still live.

4:3  But we could consider one who has never existed better off than both of them , who has never seen the evil activity that takes place under the sun.

4:4  I have seen that every labor and every skill which takes place results from rivalry between a man and his neighbor This too appears like vanity and striving after wind.

4:5  The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

4:6  One hand full of rest seems better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

4:7  Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.

4:8  There lived a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet no end came to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes took no satisfaction with riches and he never asked, "And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too seems vain and grievous.

4:9  Two prove better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

4:10  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when no one will lift him up.

4:11  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

4:12  And if one can overpower him who dwells alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands does not quickly tear apart.

4:13  A poor yet wise lad proves better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.

4:14  For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he began his life poor in his kingdom.

4:15  I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.

4:16  There seems no end to all the people, to all who existed before them, and even the ones who will come later will not have happiness with him, for this too seems vanity and striving after wind.