Ecclesiastes 4; Ecclesiastes 5; Ecclesiastes 6

1 Again I saw all the people who were mistreated here on earth. I saw their tears and that they had no one to comfort them. Cruel people had all the power, and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.

2 I decided that the dead are better off than the living.

3 But those who have never been born are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.

4 I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind.

5 Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing, because you will starve to death.

6 Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind.

7 Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:

8 I saw a man who had no family, no son or brother. He always worked hard but was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, "For whom am I working so hard? Why don't I let myself enjoy life?" This also is very sad and useless.

9 Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.

10 If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.

11 If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm.

12 An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.

13 A poor but wise boy is better than a foolish but old king who doesn't listen to advice.

14 A boy became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king.

15 I watched all the people who live on earth follow him and make him their king.

16 Many followed him at first, but later, they did not like him, either. So fame and power are useless, like chasing the wind.

1 Be careful when you go to worship at the Temple. It is better to listen than to offer foolish sacrifices without even knowing you are doing wrong.

2 Think before you speak, and be careful about what you say to God. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth, so say only a few words to God.

3 The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying, and too many words come from foolish people.

4 If you make a promise to God, don't be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised.

5 It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it.

6 Don't let your words cause you to sin, and don't say to the priest at the Temple, "I didn't mean what I promised." If you do, God will become angry with your words and will destroy everything you have worked for.

7 Many useless promises are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should respect God.

8 In some places you will see poor people mistreated. Don't be surprised when they are not treated fairly or given their rights. One officer is cheated by a higher officer who in turn is cheated by even higher officers.

9 The wealth of the country is divided up among them all. Even the king makes sure he gets his share of the profits.

10 Whoever loves money will never have enough money; Whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with it. This is also useless.

11 The more wealth people have, the more friends they have to help spend it. So what do people really gain? They gain nothing except to look at their riches.

12 Those who work hard sleep in peace; it is not important if they eat little or much. But rich people worry about their wealth and cannot sleep.

13 I have seen real misery here on earth: Money saved is a curse to its owners.

14 They lose it all in a bad deal and have nothing to give to their children.

15 People come into this world with nothing, and when they die they leave with nothing. In spite of all their hard work, they leave just as they came.

16 This, too, is real misery: They leave just as they came. So what do they gain from chasing the wind?

17 All they get are days full of sadness and sorrow, and they end up sick, defeated, and angry.

18 I have seen what is best for people here on earth. They should eat and drink and enjoy their work, because the life God has given them on earth is short.

19 God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them, as well as the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work.

20 They do not worry about how short life is, because God keeps them busy with what they love to do.

1 I have seen something else wrong here on earth that causes serious problems for people.

2 God gives great wealth, riches, and honor to some people; they have everything they want. But God does not let them enjoy such things; a stranger enjoys them instead. This is useless and very wrong.

3 A man might have a hundred children and live a long time, but what good is it if he can't enjoy the good God gives him or have a proper burial? I say a baby born dead is better off than he is.

4 A baby born dead is useless. It returns to darkness without even a name.

5 That baby never saw the sun and never knew anything, but it finds more rest than that man.

6 Even if he lives two thousand years, he doesn't enjoy the good God gives him. Everyone is going to the same place.

7 People work just to feed themselves, but they never seem to get enough to eat.

8 In this way a wise person is no better off than a fool. Then, too, it does a poor person little good to know how to get along in life.

9 It is better to see what you have than to want more. Wanting more is useless -- like chasing the wind.

10 Whatever happens was planned long ago. Everyone knows what people are like. No one can argue with God, who is stronger than anyone.

11 The more you say, the more useless it is. What good does it do?

12 People have only a few useless days of life on the earth; their short life passes like a shadow. Who knows what is best for them while they live? Who can tell them what the future will bring?