Ecclesiastes 4
Nonexistence is Better than Existing in this Cruel World
As I considered all the oppression that takes place beneath the sun, I saw the tears of the oppressed and noticed how they didn’t have anyone to comfort them. Their oppressors had plenty of power but no compassion. That made me think that the dead are better off than the living, but it would have been even better to have never even existed in the first place—that way, you wouldn’t have to see all the horrible things that take place here beneath the sun.
Work is Pointless, but so is Laziness
Any time one person works or makes a profit, it’s a result of their jealousy of someone else. That’s pointless too, just like chasing after a vapor. But only fools fold their hands because that just eats away at their-own-selves. A single hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after pointless things.
Then I kept thinking about how pointless the world is. I once knew a man who didn’t have any family members—no siblings or kids—yet he never stopped working. Wealth never satisfied his eyes, and he never stopped to ask himself,
“Who am I even working for? Why am I depriving myself of so much happiness?”
This is also pointless—and slaving away in that that situation is really miserable!
Two is Better than One
A team of two is better than one, because the two get a higher return for their labor. If the two fall, they can help each other stand back up. But it’s sad to see the one fall, because they don’t have anyone else to help them up. Similarly, if the two lie down together, they can keep warm… but how will the one keep warm all alone? The one can be overpowered by a single attacker, but the two can stand strong. A cord of 3 strands can’t be torn very quickly.
Wisdom is Better than Foolishness, but Still Futile
It’s better to be a young, poverty-stricken boy who is wise than an experienced king who is foolish and isn’t teachable any more. Even though the young boy is born into poverty, he rises up from the slums to become king. I’ve seen how everyone gravitates toward the younger boy who replaces the older king. Plenty of people were around before he replaced the king, but more will always come along later who won’t like the new leadership. Even when a foolish king gets replaced, it’s still pointless—like striving after a vapor.
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