Ecclesiastes 4:8-16

⁸There is the kind of man who is alone. He does not have anyone, no son or brother. There is no end to all his work, and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth. He wonders, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vapor, a bad situation.

⁹Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay for their labor.

¹⁰For if one falls, the other can lift up his friend. However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls if there is no one to lift him up.

¹¹If two lie down together, they can be warm, but how can one be warm alone?

¹²One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.

¹³It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.

¹⁴This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.

¹⁵I saw everyone who was alive and was walking around under the sun, along with a youth who was to rise up to take his place.

¹⁶There is no end to all the people who want to obey the new king, but later many of them will no longer praise him. Surely this situation is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.