Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12
Septuagint (Brenton) compared with World English Bible (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 beholdthe 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:
1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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.
2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who 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.
3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has 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.
4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
5The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
7Then I returned and 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 who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
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 labor.
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 who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift 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 warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
12And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
12If a man prevails against one who is alone, 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 wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
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 came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youthwho shall stand up in each one's place.
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
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 was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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.
1Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.
2For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words .
2Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your 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 as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.
4[It is] better that thou shouldest not vow , than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
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.
5It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
6For [there is evil] in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.
6Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your 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 there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.
8Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king [is dependent on] the tilled field.
8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.
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 profits from 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 who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is 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, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his 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 laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow 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 grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
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.
14Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, 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 out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, 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.
16This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors 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 he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
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 to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this 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 has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—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 heavy on 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 gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats 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 fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he;
4For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.
4for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is [no more rest] to this one than another.
5Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather 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?
6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t 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 labor 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 advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how 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 also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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.
10Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
11For there are many things which increase vanity.
11For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
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 knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?