Ecclesiastes:4

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* But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun ; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed , and they had no comforter ; and on the side of their oppressors there was power , but they had no comforter . * Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive ; * but better than they both is he that hath not yet been , who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun . * Again , I considered all labour and all excelling in work , that it is a man 's rivalry with his neighbour . This also is vanity and a striving after wind . * The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh . * Better is a handful of quietness , than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind . * Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun . * There is one that is alone , and he hath not a second ; yea , he hath neither son nor brother ; yet is there no end of all his labour , neither is his eye satisfied with riches : 'for whom then do I labour , and bereave my soul of pleasure ?' This also is vanity , yea , it is a grievous business . * Two are better than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour . * For if they fall , the one will lift up his fellow ; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth , and hath not another to lift him up . * Again , if two lie together , then they have warmth ; but how can one be warm alone ? * And if a man prevail against him that is alone , two shall withstand him ; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken . * Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king , who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more . * For out of prison he came forth to be king ; although in his kingdom he was born poor . * I saw all the living that walk under the sun , that they were with the child , the second , that was to stand up in his stead . * There was no end of all the people , even of all them whom he did lead ; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him . Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind .

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