KJV
Ecclesiastes 4
1¶ 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.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit.
7¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.
9Two [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 [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13¶ Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16[There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In Ecclesiastes 4:1
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.
Avarice: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:7, 8
Again, I saw futility under the sun. / There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Being Alone Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. / For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
Care: Worldly Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Children: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
Competition Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Consolation Under Affliction is Sought in Vain from the World Ecclesiastes 4:1
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.
Contentment: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
Cord of Friendship Ecclesiastes 4:12
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Covetousness is Vanity Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Ecclesiastes 4:2
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Envy: Excited by Good Deeds of Others Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Envy: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Fellowship: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. / For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! / Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
Fool: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
Fools: Are: Slothful Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
Friendship: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. / For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! / Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
Helping Friends Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
Helpmate Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Idleness: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
Instruction: from Nature Ecclesiastes 4:1
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.
Instruction: from the Study of Human Nature Ecclesiastes 4:1
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.
Jealousy: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.