1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Ecclesiastes 4

1 Vanity is increased unto men by oppression, 4 by envy, 5 by idleness, 7 by covetousness, 9 by solitariness, 13 by wilfulness.

 4:1 Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at all 3605 the acts 6217 of oppression 6217 which 834 were being done 6213a under 8478 the sun 8121. And behold 2009 [I saw] the tears 1832 of the oppressed 6231 and [that] they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 [them]; and on the side 3027 of their oppressors 6231 was power 3581b, but they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 [them].

 4:2 So I congratulated 7623b the dead 4191 who 7945 are already 3528 dead 4191 more 4480 than 4480 the living 2416a who 834 are still 5728 living 2416a.

 4:3 But better 2896a [off] than 4480 both 8147 of them is the one who 834 has never 3808 existed 1961, who 834 has never 3808 seen 7200 the evil 7451a activity 4639 that is done 6213a under 8478 the sun 8121.

 4:4 ¶ I have seen 7200 that every 3605 labor 5999 and every 3605 skill 3788 which is done 4639 is [the result of] rivalry 7068 between a man 376 and his neighbor 7453. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.

 4:5 The fool 3684 folds 2263 his hands 3027 and consumes 398 his own flesh 1320.

 4:6 One hand 3709 full 4393 of rest 5183a is better 2896a than 4480 two fists 2651 full 4393 of labor 5999 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.

 4:7 ¶ Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at vanity 1892 under 8478 the sun 8121.

 4:8 There 3426 was a certain 259 man 259 without 369 a dependent 8145, having 369 neither 1571 369 a son 1121 nor 369 a brother 251, yet there 369 was no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 his labor 5999. Indeed 1571, his eyes 5869 were not satisfied 7646 with riches 6239 [and he never asked], “And for whom 4310 am I laboring 6001b and depriving 2637 myself 5315 of pleasure 2899b?” This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and it is a grievous 7451a task 6045.

 4:9 ¶ Two 8147 are better 2896a than 4480 one 259 because 834 they have 3426 a good 2896a return 7725 for their labor 5999.

 4:10 For if 518 either of them falls 5307, the one 259 will lift 6965 up his companion 2270. But woe 337 to the one 259 who 7945 falls 5307 when there 369 is not another 8145 to lift 6965 him up.

 4:11 Furthermore 1571, if 518 two 8147 lie 7901 down 7901 together they keep 2552 warm 2552, but how 349 can one 259 be warm 2552 [alone]?

 4:12 And if 518 one 259 can overpower 8630 him who 259 is alone, two 8147 can resist 5975 5048 him. A cord 2339 of three 8027 [strands] is not quickly 4120 torn 5423 apart 5423.

 4:13 ¶ A poor 4542 yet wise 2450 lad 3206 is better 2896a than 4480 an old 2205 and foolish 3684 king 4428 who 834 no 3808 longer 5750 knows 3045 [how] to receive 2094b instruction 2094b.

 4:14 For he has come 3318 out of prison 1004 631 to become 4427a king 4427a, even 1571 though 3588 he was born 3205 poor 7326 in his kingdom 4438.

 4:15 I have seen 7200 all 3605 the living 2416a under 8478 the sun 8121 throng 1980 to the side 5973 of the second 8145 lad 3206 who 834 replaces 5975 8478 him.

 4:16 There 369 is no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 the people 5971a, to all 3605 who 834 were before 6440 them, and even 1571 the ones 314 who 314 will come 314 later 314 will not be happy 8055 with him, for this 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7475 after wind 7307.