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Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) 4
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Chapter 4
Society
1
I Come again to contemplate all the oppression that is committed under sun. Take for instance the tears of the oppressed, with no one to protect them; the power their oppressors wield. No one to protect them!
2
So, rather than the living who still have lives to live, I salute the dead who have already met death;
3
happier than both of these is he who is yet unborn and has not seen the evil things that are done under the sun.
4
I see that all effort and all achievement spring from men’s mutual jealousy. This, too, is vanity and chasing of the wind.
5
The fool folds his arms and eats his own flesh away.
6
Better one handful of repose than two hands full of effort in chasing the wind.
7
And I observe another vanity under the sun:
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a man is quite alone – no son, no brother; and yet there is no end to his efforts, his eyes can never have their fill of riches. For whom, then, do I work so hard and grudge myself pleasure? This, too, is vanity, a sorry business.
9
Better two than one by himself, since thus their work is really profitable.
10
If one should fall, the other helps him up; but woe to the man by himself with no one to help him up when he falls down.
11
Again: they keep warm who sleep two together, but how can a man keep warm alone?
12
Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13
Better a lad beggarly yet wise, than a king old yet foolish who will no longer take advice.
14
The lad may well step from prison to the throne, or have been born a beggar in the kingdom he now owns.
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I observe that all who live and move under the sun side with that lad, the usurper who has succeeded.
16
He takes his place at the head of innumerable subjects; sad, if later no one has cause to be glad of him. This too, most certainly, is vanity and chasing of the wind.
17
When you go to the Temple, be on your guard. Go near so that you can hear; the sacrifice is more valuable than the offering of fools, even if they are unaware of doing wrong.
Chapters of Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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