Ecclesiastes 4
4
1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 "A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul."
7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: "For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?" In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
17 Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.
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Ecclesiastes 4: CPDV
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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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