ECCLESIASTES 3:16-4:16
3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness 
was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for 
there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God 
might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing 
befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one 
breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the 
beast that goeth downward to the earth?
3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should 
rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to 
see what shall be after him?
4:1 So 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.
4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living 
which are yet alive.
4:3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not 
seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4:4 Again, 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.
4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
4:6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail 
and vexation of spirit.
4:7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
4:8 There 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.
4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
4:10 For 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.
4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm 
alone?
4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold 
cord is not quickly broken.
4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will 
no more be admonished.
4:14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his 
kingdom becometh poor.
4:15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second 
child that shall stand up in his stead.
4:16 There 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.