ECCLESIASTES 4:3-16

³yea, better than them both did I esteem him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁶Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.

⁷Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

⁸There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

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

¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm alone?

¹²And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹³Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

¹⁴For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

¹⁵I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.

¹⁶There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.