Ecclesiastes 4:2-15

²Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.

³And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.

⁴Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

⁵The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.

⁶Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.

⁷Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.

⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.

⁹Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.

¹⁰For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.

¹¹Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?

¹²And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.

¹³Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.

¹⁴For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.

¹⁵I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.