Ecclesiastes 4 So I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done under the Sun, and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed; and there was no man to comfort them or that would deliver and defend them from the violence of their oppressors.

MSTC⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ So I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done under the Sun, and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed; and there was no man to comfort them or that would deliver and defend them from the violence of their oppressors. ² Wherefore I judged those that are dead, to be more happy than such as be alive. ³ Yea, him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seeth not the miserable works that are done under the Sun. ⁴ Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind. ⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh. ⁶ "One handful," sayeth he, "is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail." ⁷ Moreover, I turned me, and behold yet another vanity under the Sun. ⁸ There is one man, no more but himself alone, having neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of his careful travail, his eyes cannot be satisfied with riches. Yet, doth he not remember himself, and say, "For whom do I take such travail? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life?" This is also a vain and miserable thing. ⁹ Therefore two are better than one, for they may well enjoy the profit of their labour. ¹⁰ If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹ Again, when two sleep together, they are warm: but how can a body be warm alone? ¹² One may be overcome, but two may make resistance: A threefold cable is not lightly broken. ¹³ A poor child being wise, is better than an old king that doteth, and cannot beware in time to come. ¹⁴ Someone cometh out of prison, and is made a king; and another which is born in the kingdom, cometh unto poverty. ¹⁵ And I perceived, that all men living under the Sun, go with the second child, that cometh up in the stead of the other. ¹⁶ As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. ¹⁷ When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do.