Ecclesiastes 4

veshavti ani va'ereh et-kol-ha'ashuqim asher na'asim takhat hashamesh vehinneh dimat ha'ashuqim ve'en lahem menakhem umiyyad osheqehem koakh ve'en lahem menakhem

I further observed all the oppression that goes on under the sun: the tears of the oppressed, with none to comfort them; and their oppressors’ power, with none to comfort them.

veshabbeakh ani et-hammetim shekkevar metu min-hakhayyim asher hemmah khayyim adenah

Then I accounted those who died long since more fortunate than those who are still living;

vetov mishenehem et asher-aden lo hayah asher lo-ra'ah et-hamma'aseh hara asher na'asah takhat hashamesh

and happier than either are those who have not yet come into being and have never witnessed the miseries that go on under the sun.

vera'iti ani et-kol-amal ve'et kol-kishron hamma'aseh ki hi qinat-ish mere'ehu gam-zeh hevel ure'ut ruakh

I have also noted that all labor and skillful enterprise come from people’s envy of one another—another futility and pursuit of wind!

hakkesil khoveq et-yadayw ve'okhel et-besaro

[True,] Fools fold their hands together And have to eat their own flesh.

tov melo khaf nakhat mimmelo khofnayim amal ure'ut ruakh

[But no less truly,] Better is a handful of gratification Than two fistfuls of labor that is pursuit of wind.

veshavti ani va'ereh hevel takhat hashamesh

And I have noted this further futility under the sun:

yesh ekhad ve'en sheni gam ben va'akh en-lo ve'en qets lekhol-amalo gam-[eno] (ynyv) lo-tisba osher ulemi ani amel umekhasser et-nafshi mittovah gam-zeh hevel ve'inyan ra hu

the case of a man who is alone, with no companion, who has neither son nor brother; yet he amasses wealth without limit, and his eye is never sated with riches. For whom, now, is he amassing it while denying himself enjoyment? That too is a futility and an unhappy business.

tovim hashenayim min-ha'ekhad asher yesh-lahem sakhar tov ba'amalam

Two are better off than one, in that they have greater benefit from their earnings.

ki im-yippolu ha'ekhad yaqim et-khavero ve'ilo ha'ekhad sheyyippol ve'en sheni lahaqimo

For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe to someone who is alone and falls with no companion to assist!

gam im-yishkevu shenayim vekham lahem ule'ekhad ekh yekham

Further, when two lie together they are warm; but how can someone who is alone get warm?

ve'im-yitqefo ha'ekhad hashenayim ya'amdu negdo vehakhut hameshullash lo vimherah yinnateq

Also, if someone attacks, two can withstand it. A threefold cord is not readily broken!

tov yeled misken vekhakham mimmelekh zaqen ukhesil asher lo-yada lehizzaher od

Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer has the sense to heed warnings.

ki-mibbet hasurim yatsa limlokh ki gam bemalkhuto nolad rash

For the former can emerge from a dungeon to become king; while the latter, even if born to kingship, can become a pauper.

ra'iti et-kol-hakhayyim hamehallekhim takhat hashamesh im hayyeled hasheni asher ya'amod takhtayw

[However,] I reflected about all the living who walk under the sun with that youthful successor who steps into his place.

en-qets lekhol-ha'am lekhol asher-hayah lifnehem gam ha'akharonim lo yismekhu-vo ki-gam-zeh hevel verayon ruakh

Unnumbered are the multitudes of all those who preceded them; and later generations will not acclaim him either. For that too is futile and pursuit of wind.

shemor (rglykh) [raglekha] ka'asher telekh el-bet ha'elohim veqarov lishmoa mittet hakkesilim zavakh ki-enam yode'im la'asot ra

Be not overeager to go to the House of God: more acceptable is obedience than the offering of fools, for they know nothing [but] to do wrong.