Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12
Septuagint (Brenton) compared with King James Version (Masoretic-derived)
Full reading for Day 240
Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12 · Psalm 101 (MT: 102) · Proverbs 24:5–6 · 1 Corinthians 9:1–27
Showing Ecclesiastes 4:1 through 6:12
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Septuagint (Brenton)
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1So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
1So 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.
2and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone]?
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
1Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words .
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.
3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
4[It is] better that thou shouldest not vow , than that thou shouldest vow and not pay .
4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6For [there is evil] in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.
6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for [there is] a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.
7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
8Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king [is dependent on] the tilled field.
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
9He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity.
9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
10In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding [it] with his eyes?
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, [namely], wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.
12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and [the man] begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go [with him] in his hand.
14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came , so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?
15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.
16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, [all] the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18Yea, and [as for] every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God .
18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.
19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man:
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3If a man beget a hundred [children], and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be , yet [if] his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he.
3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is [no more rest] to this one than another.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years , yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For [what] advantage has the wise man over the fool, since [even] the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11For there are many things which increase vanity.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12What advantage has a man? for who knows [what is] good for a man in his life, [during] the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?