Ecclesiastes 4:7-16

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 is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.

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 child 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; although in his kingdom he was born poor.

¹⁵I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.

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