Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 4 ©

1 The vanity of human life increased by oppression; 4 and by envy. 5 The absurdity of idleness. 6 The good of contentment. 7 The folly and misery of covetousness. 9 The advantages of society. 13 The throne of kings is not exempt from vanity and vexation.

1

SO aI returned, and considered all the boppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the 1side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

a Is. 59.13-16. ch. 3.16; 5.8. Mi. 2.2; 3.2,3. Job 24.7-12. La. 1.2,9,16,17. 2Ti. 4.16. Ps. 69.20.
b ch. 7.7.
2

Wherefore cI praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

c Job 3.11-22. ch. 6.3.
3

Yea, dbetter is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

d ch. 6.3. Job 3.11,16,21; 10.18,19.
4

¶Again, eI considered all *travail, and 2every right work, fthat for 3this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and *vexation of spirit.

e ch. 1.14; 2.11; 3.16; 6.1. v.1.
f Ge. 37.4-11. Jn. 3.12. Mat. 9.34. Phi. 1.15,16,18.
5

The gfool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

g Pr. 6.10; 12.27; 24.33; 13.4; 20.4.
6

hBetter is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with *travail and *vexation of spirit.

h Pr. 15.16,17; 17.1; 16.8. Ps. 37.16. 1Ti. 6.6.
7

¶Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: iyet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, jFor whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a *sore *travail.

i Pr. 27.20. Is. 5.8. 1Jn. 2.16. Hab. 2.5,9. ch. 5.10; 6.2.
j Ps. 39.6.
9

kTwo are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

k Ge. 2.18. Pr. 27.17. 1Co. 12.18. Mar. 6.7. Ex. 4.14,15; 6.26; 31.6. Hag. 1.14. Ac. 13.2.
10

lFor 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.

l Job 4.3,4. He. 10.24. Ju. 7.21-23.
11

Again, mif two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone ?

m 1Ki. 1.1,2. Ep. 2.19. Col. 2.19.
12

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and na threefold cord is not quickly broken.

n Da. 3.17. Pr. 22.20.
13

oBetter is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, 4who will no more be admonished.

o Pr. 26.12. ch. 9.15,16. 1Ti. 4.12.
14

pFor out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also qhe that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

p Job 5.11. Ps. 113.7,8. Ge. 41.14,40. 2Sa. 7.8.
q Da. 4.31. La. 4.20.
15

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his *stead.

16

rThere 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. sSurely this also is vanity and *vexation of spirit.

r 2Sa. 15.12,13; 20.2. 1Ki. 1.5,7,40; 12.10,16.
s ch. 1.14; 2.11,17,26.