Ecclesiastes 4:1

Justice Poverty and the vulnerable Grief

Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

² So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

³ But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
ASV: Then I returned and saw 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.
DARBY: And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
BLB: And I turned, and I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and no one [is] comforting to them—while from the hand of those oppressing them [is] strength, and no one [is] comforting to them.

ÅB: Fremdeles så jeg alle de voldsgjerninger som skjer under solen; jeg så de undertryktes gråt - det var ingen som trøstet dem; jeg så voldsmennene bruke makt mot dem, og det var ingen som trøstet dem.
OTB: Igjen så jeg alle undertrykkelsens gjerninger som skjer under solen. Jeg så de undertryktes tårer, og de hadde ingen trøster; makten var på undertrykkernes side, og de hadde ingen trøster.
B1930: Fremdeles så jeg alle de voldsgjerninger som skjer under solen; jeg så de undertryktes gråt - det var ingen som trøstet dem; jeg så voldsmennene bruke makt mot dem, og det var ingen som trøstet dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ecclesiastes 3:16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.
Read in context
2 Timothy 4:16–17
At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
Read in context
Isaiah 51:23
I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”
Read in context
Lamentations 1:9
Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!
Read in context
Job 35:9
Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.
Read in context
Psalms 42:3
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Read in context