Ecclesiastes 4
4
Evil Under the Sun
1 # ch. 9:11 Again I #ch. 3:16 saw all #ch. 5:8; Job 35:9 the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had #Lam. 1:2no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2And I #See Job 3:11-26thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3But #ch. 6:3better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is #See ch. 1:14vanity#4:4 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2) and a striving after wind.
5The fool #Prov. 6:10; 24:33 folds his hands and #[Isa. 9:20]eats his own flesh.
6 # See Prov. 15:16 Better is a handful of #ch. 6:5quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 # [See ver. 1 above] Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his #ch. 1:8; [Prov. 27:20; 1 John 2:16] eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, #ch. 2:18; Ps. 39:6 “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy #See ch. 1:13business.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, #See 1 Kgs. 1:1-4but how can one keep warm alone? 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better was #[ch. 9:15, 16] a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how #[Prov. 12:15]to take advice. 14For he went #See Gen. 41:14, 41-43from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that#4:15 Hebrew the second youth who was to stand in the king’s#4:15 Hebrew his place. 16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is #See ch. 1:14vanity and a striving after wind.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Ecclesiastes 4
4
Is It Better to Be Dead?
1Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears, and I saw that there was no one to comfort them. I saw that cruel people had all the power, and I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt. 2I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive. 3And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.#4:3 in this world Literally, “under the sun.”
Why Work So Hard?
4Then I thought, “Why do people work so hard?” I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. They do this because they are jealous. They don’t want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.#4:4 trying to catch the wind Or “It is very troubling to the spirit.” The word for “troubling” can also mean “craving,” and the word for “spirit” can also mean “wind.” Also in verse 16.
5Some people say, “It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don’t work, you will starve to death.” 6Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.
7Again I saw something else that didn’t make sense: 8I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, “Why am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy my life?” This is also a very bad and senseless thing.
Friends and Family Give Strength
9Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
10If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.
11If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm.
12An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-to-back to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together—it is very hard to break.
People, Politics, and Popularity
13A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings. 14Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country. 15But I have watched people in this life,#4:15 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king. 16Many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is also senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
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