“So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter. And on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no…”
Ecclesiastes 4
16 of 16 verses have a reading · Berean Standard Bible
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David Hocking16
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Chuck Smith8
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Carter Conlon3
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Zac Poonen2
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Anton Bosch2
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Tim Conway2
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Richard Wurmbrand1
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Dora Esh1
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Don Wilkerson1
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Russell Kelfer1
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David Hocking16
CS
Chuck Smith8
CC
Carter Conlon3
ZP
Zac Poonen2
AB
Anton Bosch2
TC
Tim Conway2
RW
Richard Wurmbrand1
DE
Dora Esh1
DW
Don Wilkerson1
RK
Russell Kelfer1
All voices →
1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
“So I returned and I considered all of the oppressions that are done under the sun. I beheld the tears of those that were oppressed and they had no comforter. And on the side of their oppressors there was power but they had no…”
“Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the Sun and Look the tears of the oppressed. But they have no comforter on the side of the oppressors. There was power. But they have no comforter.”
2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
“Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.”
“therefore I praise the dead who were already dead more than the living who are still alive.”
“I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.”
3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
“Yet better than both as he who has never existed who has not seen the evil work that is done under the Sun.”
“Yet better than those is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.”
4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man's envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
“again I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
“The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.”
“the fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.”
6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
“Better as a handful with quietness than both hands full together with toil and grasping for the wind.”
“better is in handful with quietness than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.”
7Again, I saw futility under the sun.
“Then I returned and I saw vanity under the Sun.”
8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: "For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?" This too is futile—a miserable task.
“There is one alone. Without companion he has neither son nor brother yet. There's no end to all his labors nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asked for whom do I toil and deprive myself of good. This also is…”
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
“two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.”
“two are better than one. Because they have a good return for their labor.”
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”
“two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”
“Two are better than one because at least they have a good reward for their labor.”
10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
“For if they fall one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.”
“if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”
“If they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.”
“for if they fall, one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who's alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him.”
“if either of them falls, verse 10, the one can lift up his companion, but woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”
11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
“Again, if two lie together, they keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”
“Again, if two lie together, then they can have heat, but how can one be warm alone?”
“again if two lie down together They will keep warm. But how can one be warm alone?”
12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
“Though one may be overpowered by another two can withstand him and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
“if one prevails against him two shall withstand him and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
“better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.”
“Better as a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.”
14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
“For he comes out of prison to be king and although he was born poor in his kingdom”
“For out of prison he comes to reign, whereas he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.”
15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
“I considered all of the living which walk under the sun with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.”
“I saw all the living who walk unto the Sun they were with the second youth who stands in his place.”
16There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
“there is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them. They also that come after shall not rejoice in him, surely this also is empty and vexation of spirit.”
“There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king yet. Those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”