4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born 1
and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. 2
4:4 Then I considered 3 all the skillful work 4 that is done:
Surely it is nothing more than 5 competition 6 between one person and another. 7
This also is profitless – like 8 chasing the wind.
4:5 The fool folds his hands and does no work, 9
so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. 10
4:6 Better is one handful with some rest
than two hands full of toil 11 and chasing the wind.
4:7 So 12 I again considered 13 another 14 futile thing on earth: 15
4:8 A man who is all alone with no companion, 16
he has no children nor siblings; 17
yet there is no end to all his toil,
and he 18 is never satisfied with riches.
He laments, 19 “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself 20 of pleasure?” 21
This also is futile and a burdensome task! 22
4:9 Two people are better than one,
because they can reap 23 more benefit 24 from their labor.
4:10 For if they fall, one will help his companion up,
but pity 25 the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.
4:11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,
but how can one person keep warm by himself?
4:12 Although an assailant may overpower 26 one person,
two can withstand him.
Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.
4:13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king
who no longer knows how to receive advice.
4:14 For he came out of prison 27 to become king,
even though he had been born poor in what would become his 28 kingdom.
4:15 I considered all the living who walk on earth, 29
as well as the successor 30 who would arise 31 in his place.
4:16 There is no end to all the people 32 nor to the past generations, 33
yet future generations 34 will not rejoice in him.
This also is profitless and like 35 chasing the wind.