NIV

NIV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Copy
Copy Options
Format by: Verse Paragraph
Strong's
Red Letter
Audio Bibles
Copy Options
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible

Ecclesiastes 4 :: New International Version (NIV)

Choose a new font size and typeface
Audio Bibles

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:1 - Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:2 - And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:3 - But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:4 - And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:5 - Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:6 - Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:7 - Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:8 - There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:9 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:10 - If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:11 - Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement Is Meaningless

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:13 - Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:14 - The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:15 - I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 4:16 - There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
NIV

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.


See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
NIV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
NIV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 — Additional Translations: