4:1 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.

4:2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.

4:3 But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4:4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

4:5 The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.

4:6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

4:7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

4:8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless--a miserable business!

4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

4:10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

4:11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

4:13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.

4:14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

4:15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.

4:16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.