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class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">NET Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/net/esv/ecclesiastes/4.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="title">Evil Oppression on Earth</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth.</p><p class="poetry2">This is what I saw:</p><p class="poetry2">The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them;</p><p class="poetry2">no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So I considered those who are dead and gone</p><p class="poetry2">more fortunate than those who are still alive.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>But better than both is the one who has not been born</p><p class="poetry2">and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.</p> <p class="title">Labor Motivated by Envy</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Then I considered all the skillful work that is done:</p><p class="poetry2">Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another.</p><p class="poetry2">This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The fool folds his hands and does no work,</p><p class="poetry2">so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Better is one handful with some rest</p><p class="poetry2">than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.</p> <p class="title">Labor Motivated by Greed</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So I again considered another futile thing on earth:</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>A man who is all alone with no companion,</p><p class="poetry2">he has no children nor siblings;</p><p class="poetry2">yet there is no end to all his toil,</p><p class="poetry2">and he is never satisfied with riches.</p><p class="poetry2">He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?”</p><p class="poetry2">This also is futile and a burdensome task!</p> <p class="title">Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Two people are better than one,</p><p class="poetry2">because they can reap more benefit from their labor.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>For if they fall, one will help his companion up,</p><p class="poetry2">but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,</p><p class="poetry2">but how can one person keep warm by himself?</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Although an assailant may overpower one person,</p><p class="poetry2">two can withstand him.</p><p class="poetry2">Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.</p> <p class="title">Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king</p><p class="poetry2">who no longer knows how to receive advice.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>For he came out of prison to become king,</p><p class="poetry2">even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>I considered all the living who walk on earth,</p><p class="poetry2">as well as the successor who would arise in his place.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations,</p><p class="poetry2">yet future generations will not rejoice in him.</p><p class="poetry2">This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.</p></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><a href="http://netbible.com/">NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com.<br />Used by permission. 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