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Ecclesiastes 4

1 The innocents are oppressed. 4 Men’s labours are ful of abuse and vanity. 9 Man’s society is necessary 13 A young man poor, and wise is to be preferred to an old King that is a fool.
1.So aI turned, and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and none comforteth them, and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppress them, and none comforteth them.
2.Wherefore I praised the bdead which now are dead, above the living, which are yet alive.
3.And I count him cbetter then them both, which hath not yet been, for he hath not seen the evil works which are wrought under the sun.
4.Also I beheld all travail, and all dperfection of works that this is the envy of a man against his neighbour, this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
5.The fool foldeth his hands, and eeateth up his own flesh.
6.Better is an handful with quietness, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
7.Again I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
8.There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither son nor brother, yet is there none end of all his travail, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he think, For whom do I travail and defraud my soul of pleasure? this also is vanity, and this is an evil travail.
9.fTwo are better then one: for they have better wages for their labour.
10.For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but wo unto him that is alone: for he falleth, & there is not a second to lift him up.
11.Also if two sleep together, then shal they have heat: but to one how should there be heat?
12.And if one overcome him, two shal stand against him: and a threefold gcord is not easily broken.
13.Better is a poor and wise child, then an old and foolish King, which wil no more be admonished.
14.For out of the hprison he cometh forth to reign: when as he that is iborn in his kingdom, is made poor.
15.I beheld all the living, which walk under the sun, kwith the second child, which shal stand up in his place.
16.There is none lend of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shal not rejoyce in him: surely this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
17.Take heed to thy mfoot when thou entrest into the House of God, and be more near to hear then to give the sacrifice of nfools: for they know not that they do evil.

Notes

1-a.
He makes here another discourse with himself concerning the tyranny of them that oppressed the poor.
2-b.
Because they are no more subject to these oppressions.
3-c.
He speaks according to the judgement of the flesh, which can not abide to feel, or see troubles.
4-d.
The more profit that the work is, of the more is it envied of the wicked.
5-e.
For idleness he is compelled to destroy himself.
9-f.
Forasmuch as when man is alone, he can neither help himself nor others, he shows that men ought to live in mutual society, to the intent they may be profitable one to another, and that their things may increase.
12-g.
By this proverb he declares how necessary it is, that men should live in society.
14-h.
That is, from a poor, and base estate, or out of trouble, and prison, as Joseph did, Gen 41.14.
14-i.
Meaning, that is born a King.
15-k.
Which follow, and flatter the King’s son, or him that shal succeed to enter into credit with them in hope of gain.
16-l.
They never cease by all means to creep into favour: but when they obtain not their greedy desires, they think themselves abused, as other have been in time past, and so care no more for him.
17-m.
That is, with what affection you come to hear the word of God.
17-n.
Meaning, of the wicked, which think to please God with ceremonies, and have neither faith nor repentance.