Ecclesiastes 4 NKJV NLT Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 4 ►

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New King James Version

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1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.

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.

2Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

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

3Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work 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.

4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for 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 hands And consumes his own flesh.

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

6Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for 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

7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

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

8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

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 labor.

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

10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

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

11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

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

12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly 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 a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

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

14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although 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 walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

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

16There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for 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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