Ecclesiastes 4 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The Tears of the Oppressed

1 Then I looked ^H7200 again ^H7725 at all ^H3605 the acts ^H6217 of ^H6217 oppression ^H6217 which ^H834 were being done ^H6213 under ^H8478 the sun ^H8121. And behold ^H2009, I saw the tears ^H1832 of the oppressed ^H6231 and that they had ^H369 no ^H369 one ^H369 to comfort ^H5162 them; and on the side ^H3027 of their oppressors ^H6231 was power ^H3581, but they had ^H369 no ^H369 one ^H369 to comfort ^H5162 them.

2 So I lauded ^H7623 the dead ^H4191 who ^H7945 are already ^H3528 dead ^H4191 more ^H4480 than ^H4480 the living ^H2416 who ^H834 are still ^H5728 living ^H2416. 3 But better ^H2896 off than ^H4480 both ^H8147 of them is the one who ^H834 never ^H3808 has been ^H1961, who ^H834 has never ^H3808 seen ^H7200 the evil ^H7451 work ^H4639 that is done ^H6213 under ^H8478 the sun ^H8121.

4 I have seen ^H7200 that every ^H3605 labor ^H5999 and every ^H3605 success ^H3788 of the work ^H4639 is the result of jealousy ^H7068 between a man ^H376 and his neighbor ^H7453. This ^H2088 too ^H1571 is [fn]vanity ^H1892 and striving ^H7469 after wind ^H7307. 5 The fool ^H3684 folds ^H2263 his hands ^H3027 in embrace ^H2263 and consumes ^H398 his own flesh ^H1320. 6 One hand ^H3709 full ^H4393 of rest ^H5183 is better ^H2896 than ^H4480 two fists ^H2651 full ^H4393 of labor ^H5999 and striving ^H7469 after wind ^H7307.

7 Then I looked ^H7200 again ^H7725 at vanity ^H1892 under ^H8478 the sun ^H8121. 8 There ^H3426 was ^H3426 a certain ^H259 man ^H259 without ^H369 a second ^H8145 man, having ^H369 neither ^H1571 H369 a son ^H1121 nor ^H369 a brother ^H251, yet there ^H369 was ^H369 no ^H369 end ^H7093 to all ^H3605 his labor ^H5999. Indeed ^H1571, his eyes ^H5869 were ^H7646 not satisfied ^H7646 with riches ^H6239-“And for whom ^H4310 am I laboring ^H6001 and depriving ^H2637 myself ^H5315 of good ^H2896?” This ^H2088 too ^H1571 is vanity ^H1892, and it is a grievous ^H7451 endeavor ^H6045.

9 Two ^H8147 are better ^H2896 than ^H4480 one ^H259 because ^H834 they have ^H3426 good ^H2896 wages ^H7725 for their labor ^H5999. 10 For if ^H518 [fn]either of them falls ^H5307, the one ^H259 will lift ^H6965 up ^H6965 his companion ^H2270. But woe ^H337 to the one ^H259 who ^H7945 falls ^H5307 when there ^H369 is ^H369 not ^H369 a second ^H8145 one to lift ^H6965 him up ^H6965. 11 Furthermore ^H1571, if ^H518 two ^H8147 lie ^H7901 down ^H7901 together they [fn]keep ^H2552 warm ^H2552, but how ^H349 can one ^H259 be ^H2552 warm ^H2552 alone? 12 And if ^H518 [fn]one can overpower ^H8630 him who is alone ^H259, two ^H8147 can stand ^H5975 against ^H5048 him. A cord ^H2339 of ^H8027 three ^H8027 strands is not quickly ^H4120 torn ^H5423 apart ^H5423.

13 A poor ^H4542 yet wise ^H2450 lad ^H3206 is better ^H2896 than ^H4480 an old ^H2205 and foolish ^H3684 king ^H4428 who ^H834 no ^H3808 longer ^H5750 knows ^H3045 how to receive ^H2094 [fn]warning ^H2094. 14 For he has come ^H3318 out ^H3318 of prison ^H1004 H631 to become ^H4427 king ^H4427, even ^H1571 though ^H3588 he was born ^H3205 poor ^H7326 in his kingdom ^H4438. 15 I have seen ^H7200 all ^H3605 the living ^H2416 who walk ^H1980 about ^H1980 under ^H8478 the sun ^H8121 go along with ^H5973 the second ^H8145 lad ^H3206 who ^H834 stands ^H5975 in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 him. 16 There ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 end ^H7093 to all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, to all ^H3605 who ^H834 were before ^H6440 them, and even ^H1571 the ones ^H314 who ^H314 will come ^H314 later ^H314 will not be ^H8055 glad ^H8055 with him, for this ^H2088 too ^H1571 is vanity ^H1892 and striving ^H7475 after wind ^H7307.