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Ecclesiastes 4

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¹Then 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 labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁶Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

⁷Then 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 labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

⁹Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

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.

¹³Better 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 forth 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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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

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

Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:8

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?