Loneliness and Opression
Ecclesiastes 4Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. Look, 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. Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Then I saw all the labor and achievement come from the envy of a one’s neighbor. This also is emptiness and a striving after wind.
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Then I returned and saw emptiness under the sun. There 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 emptiness. Yes, it is a miserable business.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For 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. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? If someone overpowers one person, two can withstand him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. There was no end of all the people who were before him, yet those who come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is emptiness and a chasing after wind.