Ecclesiastes 4
4
1 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. 2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. 3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. 6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and chasing after wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? 12If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. 14For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. 16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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Ecclesiastes 4
4
1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. # Jb 35:9; Ec 3:16; 5:8 Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. 2So I admired the dead, # Jb 3:11-26 who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, # Ec 6:3; Lk 23:29 who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
The Loneliness of Wealth
4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. # 1Sm 18:9; Ec 2:21; Ac 13:45; 2Co 12:20 This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. # Ec 1:14
5The fool folds his arms # Pr 6:10; 24:33
and consumes his own flesh. # Is 9:20
6Better one handful with rest
than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. # Pr 15:16-17
7Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8There is a person without a companion, # Lit person, but there is not a second, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. # Pr 27:20; Ec 1:8; 5:10 “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good? ” This too is futile and a miserable task.
9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? # 1Kg 1:1-4 12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. # Ec 9:15 14For he came from prison to be king, # Gn 41:14,41-43 even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow # Lit with a second youth who succeeds him. 16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. # Ec 1:14
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