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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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 4
4
Is It Better to Be Dead?
1Again I saw all the people who were treated badly here on earth.
I saw their tears.
I saw that they had no one to comfort them.
Cruel people had all the power.
There was no one to comfort the people they hurt.
2I decided that the dead
are better off than the living.
3But those who have never been born
are better off still.
They have not seen the evil
that is done here on earth.
Why Work So Hard?
4I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless. It is like chasing the wind.
5Some say that it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing.
You will starve to death!
6Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content
with what little you have.
Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more.
That is like chasing the wind.
7Again I saw something here on earth that was senseless:
8I saw a person who had no family.
He had no son or brother.
He always worked hard.
But he was never satisfied with what he had.
He never asked himself, “For whom am I working so hard?
Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?”
This also is very sad and senseless.
Friends and Family Give Strength
9Two people are better than one.
They get more done by working together.
10If one person falls,
the other can help him up.
But it is bad for the person who is alone when he falls.
No one is there to help him.
11If two lie down together, they will be warm.
But a person alone will not be warm.
12An enemy might defeat one person,
but two people together can defend themselves.
A rope that has three parts wrapped together
is hard to break.
Fame and Power Are Useless
13A young person may be poor but wise. He is better than a foolish, old king who doesn’t listen to advice. 14I saw such a young person become king. He had been born poor in the kingdom. He had even gone to prison before becoming king. 15I watched some of the people who live on earth follow him. They made him their king. 16Yes, a great many people followed him at first. But later, they did not like him, either. So fame and power are shown to be useless. They are like chasing the wind.
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