Ecclesiastes 4

Again I considered all the oppressions committed under the sun. Look at the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them! Power was in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them. I considered the dead who have already died more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil work done under the sun. I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity and a pursuit of wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with toil and a pursuit of wind. Again I saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone, with no one beside him, neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is never satisfied with wealth. “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of good?” This too is vanity and a grievous task. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to the one who falls alone, with no one to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm;
but how can one keep warm alone? Though an attacker may overpower one, two can stand against him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. For he came out of prison to reign, though he had been born poor in his kingdom. I saw all the living who walk under the sun with the second youth who would stand in his place. There was no end to all the people at whose head he stood, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this too is vanity and a pursuit of wind.

Rights and attribution