Ecclesiastes 4 CSB NLT Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.

1Again, 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.

2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.

2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.

3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.

4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person's jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.

5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”

6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.

6And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” The Advantages of Companionship

7Again, I saw futility under the sun:

7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.

8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "Who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself of good things?" This too is futile and a miserable task.

8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.

9Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?

11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. The Futility of Political Power

13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.

13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.

15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.

15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.

16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

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