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Ecclesiastes 4 :: Brenton's English Septuagint (BES)

Ecc 4:1So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
Ecc 4:2and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
Ecc 4:3Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
Ecc 4:4And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Ecc 4:5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Ecc 4:6Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
Ecc 4:7So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
Ecc 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
Ecc 4:9Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecc 4:10For 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.
Ecc 4:11Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone?
Ecc 4:12And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
Ecc 4:13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
Ecc 4:14For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
Ecc 4:15I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
Ecc 4:16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
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Translation of the Greek Septuagint into English by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton, originally published in 1851 and is now in the Public Domain

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 — Additional Translations: