Bible Language

Ecclesiastes 4:1 (ERVEN) Easy to Read - English

1 Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears, and I saw that there was no one to comfort them. I saw that cruel people had all the power, and I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt.
2 I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive.
3 And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.
4 Then I thought, "Why do people work so hard?" I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. They do this because they are jealous. They don't want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
5 Some people say, "It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don't work, you will starve to death."
6 Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.
7 Again I saw something else that didn't make sense:
8 I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, "Why am I working so hard? Why don't I let myself enjoy my life?" This is also a very bad and senseless thing.
9 Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
10 If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.
11 If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm.
12 An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-toback to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together—it is very hard to break.
13 A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings.
14 Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country.
15 But I have watched people in this life, and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king.
16 Many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is also senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
1 So I H589 PPRO-1MS returned H7725 , and considered H7200 all H3605 NMS the oppressions H6217 that H834 RPRO are done H6213 under H8478 NMS the sun H8121 : and behold H2009 IJEC the tears H1832 of such as were oppressed H6217 , and they had no H369 W-NPAR comforter H5162 ; and on the side H3027 WM-GFS of their oppressors H6231 there was power H3581 CMS ; but they had no H369 W-NPAR comforter H5162 .
2 Wherefore I H589 PPRO-1MS praised H7623 the dead H4191 which are already H3528 dead H4191 more than H4480 PREP the living H2416 which H834 RPRO are yet H5728 alive H2416 NMP .
3 Yea , better H2896 is he than both H8147 they , which H834 RPRO hath not H3808 NADV yet H5728 been H1961 VQQ3MS , who H834 RPRO hath not H3808 ADV seen H7200 VQQ3MS the evil H7451 D-AMS work H4639 that H834 RPRO is done H6213 under H8478 NMS the sun H8121 .
4 Again , I H589 PPRO-1MS considered H7200 all H3605 NMS travail H5999 NMS , and every H3605 NMS right H3788 work H4639 , that H3588 CONJ for this H1931 PPRO-3FS a man H376 NMS is envied H7068 of his neighbor H7453 CMS-3MS . This H2088 DPRO is also H1571 CONJ vanity H1892 NMS and vexation H7469 of spirit H7307 NMS .
5 The fool H3684 foldeth his hands together H2263 , and eateth H398 his own flesh H1320 .
6 Better H2896 AMS is a handful H4393 with quietness H5183 , than both the hands H2651 full H4393 with travail H5999 NMS and vexation H7469 of spirit H7307 NMS .
7 Then I H589 PPRO-1MS returned H7725 , and I saw H7200 vanity H1892 NMS under H8478 NMS the sun H8121 .
8 There is H3426 PART one H259 MMS alone , and there is not H369 W-NPAR a second H8145 ; yea H1571 CONJ , he hath neither H369 ADV child H1121 NMS nor brother H251 : yet is there no H369 W-NPAR end H7093 RMS of all H3605 L-CMS his labor H5999 ; neither H3808 NADV is his eye H5869 satisfied H7646 with riches H6239 ; neither saith he , For whom H4310 do I H589 PPRO-1MS labor H6001 NMS , and bereave H2637 my soul H5315 CFS-1MS of good H2896 ? This H2088 DPRO is also H1571 CONJ vanity H1892 NMS , yea , it H1931 PPRO-3MS is a sore H7451 AMS travail H6045 .
9 Two H8147 are better H2896 AMS than H4480 PREP one H259 ; because H834 RPRO they have H3426 PART a good H2896 AMS reward H7939 for their labor H5999 .
10 For H3588 CONJ if H518 PART they fall H5307 , the one H259 will lift up H6965 his fellow H2270 : but woe H337 to him that is alone H259 D-AMS when he falleth H5307 ; for he hath not H369 W-NPAR another H8145 to help him up H6965 .
11 Again H1571 CONJ , if H518 PART two H8147 ONUM lie together H7901 , then they have heat H2552 : but how H349 can one H259 be warm H3179 alone ?
12 And if H518 one H259 prevail against H8630 him , two H8147 shall withstand H5975 him ; and a threefold H8027 cord H2339 is not H3808 NADV quickly H4120 broken H5423 .
13 Better H2896 AMS is a poor H4542 and a wise H2450 child H3206 than an old H2205 PFS and foolish H3684 king H4428 , who H834 RPRO will H3045 VQQ3MS no H3808 NADV more H5750 ADV be admonished H2094 .
14 For H3588 CONJ out of prison H1004 he cometh H3318 VQQ3MS to reign H4427 ; whereas H3588 CONJ also H1571 CONJ he that is born H3205 in his kingdom H4438 becometh poor H7326 .
15 I considered H7200 VQQ1MS all H3605 NMS the living H2416 which walk H1980 under H8478 NMS the sun H8121 , with H5973 PREP the second H8145 D-ONUM child H3206 that H834 RPRO shall stand up H5975 VQY3MS in his stead H8478 NMS .
16 There is no H369 ADV end H7093 RMS of all H3605 L-CMS the people H5971 , even of all H3605 that H834 RPRO have been H1961 VQQ3MS before H6440 L-CMP-3MP them : they also H1571 CONJ that come after H314 shall not H3808 NADV rejoice H8055 in him . Surely H3588 CONJ this H2088 DPRO also H1571 CONJ is vanity H1892 NMS and vexation H7475 of spirit H7307 NMS .