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Ecclesiastes 4 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

The Evils of Oppression

Ecc 4:1

Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.

Ecc 4:2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.
Ecc 4:3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
Ecc 4:4

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind.

Ecc 4:5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
Ecc 4:6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
Ecc 4:7

Then I looked again at futility under the sun.

Ecc 4:8There was a man without a [fn]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task.
Ecc 4:9

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;

Ecc 4:10for if [fn]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [fn]another to lift him up!
Ecc 4:11Furthermore, if two lie down together they [fn]keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:12And if [fn]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Ecc 4:13

A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [fn]instruction

Ecc 4:14for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
Ecc 4:15I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who [fn]replaces him.
Ecc 4:16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.
NASB20 Footnotes
Lit second
Lit they fall
Lit a second
Lit have warmth
Lit he
Or warning
Lit stands in his place
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New American Standard Bible 2020
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Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 — Additional Translations: