1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. (Job 35:9; Ec 3:16; Ec 5:8; Ec 9:11; La 1:2)2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. (Job 3:11)3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (Ec 6:3)4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity[1] and a striving after wind. (Ec 1:14)5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. (Pr 6:10; Pr 24:33; Isa 9:20)6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. (Pr 15:16; Ec 6:5)7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: (Ec 4:1)8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. (Ps 39:6; Pr 27:20; Ec 1:8; Ec 1:13; Ec 2:18; 1Jo 2:16)9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? (1Ki 1:1)12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. (Pr 12:15; Ec 9:15)14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. (Ge 41:14; Ge 41:41)15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that[2] youth who was to stand in the king’s[3] place.16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ec 1:14)
1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed – and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors – and they have no comforter.2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:8there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ This too is meaningless – a miserable business!9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour:10if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no-one to help them up.11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Advancement is meaningless
13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
1I looked and saw how much people were suffering on this earth. I saw the tears of those who are suffering. They don’t have anyone to comfort them. Power is on the side of those who treat them badly. Those who are suffering don’t have anyone to comfort them.2Then I announced that those who have already died are happier than those who are still alive.3But someone who hasn’t been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That’s because that person hasn’t seen the evil things that are done on earth.4I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.5Foolish people fold their hands and don’t work. And that destroys them.6One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.7Again I saw something on earth that didn’t mean anything.8A man lived all by himself. He didn’t have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn’t happy with what he had. ‘Who am I working so hard for?’ he asked. ‘Why don’t I get the things I enjoy?’ That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it’s a very bad deal!9Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.10Suppose either of them falls down. Then the one can help the other one up. But suppose a person falls down and doesn’t have anyone to help them up. Then feel sorry for that person!11Or suppose two people lie down together. Then they’ll keep warm. But how can one person keep warm alone?12One person could be overpowered. But two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn’t easily broken.
Getting ahead is meaningless
13A poor but wise young man is better off than an old but foolish king. That king doesn’t pay attention to a warning anymore.14The young man might have come from prison to become king. Or he might have been born poor within the kingdom but still became king.15I saw that everyone was following the young man who had become the new king.16At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4
King James Version
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.2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.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.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 foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.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; 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 falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone ?12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.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 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.
1Dann wieder habe ich alles beobachtet, was unter der Sonne getan wird, um Menschen auszubeuten. Sieh, die Ausgebeuteten weinen und niemand tröstet sie; von der Hand ihrer Ausbeuter geht Gewalt aus und niemand tröstet sie. (De 28:29; Ec 5:7; Am 3:9)2Da preise ich immer wieder die Toten, die schon gestorben sind, und nicht die Lebenden, die noch leben müssen. (Job 3:20; Ec 7:2)3Glücklicher aber als beide preise ich den, der noch nicht geworden ist, der noch nicht das schlimme Tun gesehen hat, das unter der Sonne getan wurde. (Ec 6:3; Jer 20:18; Sir 30:17; Sir 41:2)4Denn ich beobachtete: Jede Arbeit und jedes erfolgreiche Tun bedeutet Konkurrenzkampf zwischen den Menschen. Auch das ist Windhauch und Luftgespinst.5Der Ungebildete legt seine Hände in den Schoß / und verzehrt sein eigenes Fleisch. (Pr 6:10; Pr 24:33)6Besser eine Handvoll und Ruhe / als beide Hände voll und Arbeit und Luftgespinst. (Pr 15:16; Pr 16:8; Pr 17:1; Ec 6:5)
Der alleinstehende Mensch
7Und wieder habe ich etwas unter der Sonne beobachtet, das Windhauch ist.8Es kommt vor, dass jemand allein steht und niemanden bei sich hat. Ja, er besitzt nicht einmal einen Sohn oder Bruder. Aber sein Besitz ist ohne Grenzen und überdies kann sein Auge vom Reichtum nicht genug bekommen. Doch für wen strenge ich mich dann an und warum gönne ich mir kein Glück? Auch das ist Windhauch und ein schlechtes Geschäft. (Ge 2:18; Pr 27:20; Ec 1:8; Ec 2:18; Ec 5:9; Tob 8:6)9Zwei sind besser als einer allein, falls sie nur reichen Ertrag aus ihrem Besitz ziehen.10Denn wenn sie hinfallen, richtet einer den anderen auf. Doch wehe dem, der allein ist, wenn er hinfällt, ohne dass einer bei ihm ist, der ihn aufrichtet. (Da 11:19; Tob 11:10)11Außerdem:
Wenn zwei zusammen schlafen, wärmt einer den andern; / einer allein - wie soll er warm werden? (1Ki 1:1; Lu 17:34)12Und wenn jemand einen Einzelnen auch überwältigt, / zwei sind ihm gewachsen und eine dreifache Schnur reißt nicht so schnell. (Job 14:20; Job 15:24; Lu 10:30)
Wankelmütige Volksgunst
13Besser ein junger Mann, der niedriger Herkunft, aber gebildet ist, als ein König, der alt, aber ungebildet ist - weil er es nicht mehr verstand, auf Ratschläge zu hören. (Job 32:9; Pr 17:2; Sir 11:1)14Der junge Mann wurde aus dem Gefängnis befreit und wurde König, obwohl er, während der andere schon regierte, arm zur Welt gekommen war. (Ge 39:1; Ge 41:39; 1Sa 18:23; Ps 105:17)15Ich habe beobachtet, dass alle Lebenden, die unter der Sonne umherlaufen, sich auf die Seite des nächsten jungen Mannes stellten, der statt seiner hochkommt. (1Ki 1:45)16Die Volksmenge nimmt kein Ende, gleichgültig, wer an ihre Spitze getreten ist. Im Übrigen werden die Späteren auch mit ihm nicht zufrieden sein. Denn auch das ist Windhauch und Luftgespinst. (Ec 1:9; Sir 10:10; Sir 11:5)
RATSCHLAG FÜR DAS RELIGIÖSE VERHALTEN
Hören, Opfern und Sprechen im Gottesdienst
17Zügle deinen Schritt, wenn du zum Gotteshaus gehst!
Tritt ein, um zuzuhören, / und nicht, wie die Ungebildeten, um Opfer abzugeben!
Sie verstehen nicht einmal, Böses zu tun. (1Sa 15:22; Ps 50:14; Pr 15:7; Pr 19:1; Ho 6:6; Mic 6:6; Bar 2:31)