Ecclesiastes 4:4-15

⁴And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

⁵The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

⁶Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.

⁷So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

⁹Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labor.

¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

¹¹Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone?

¹²And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.

¹³Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

¹⁴For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor.

¹⁵I *saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.