Ecclesiastes 4

Evil Under the Sun

1 u Again I v saw all w the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had x no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I y thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But z better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is a vanity and a striving after wind.

5 The fool b folds his hands and c eats his own flesh.

6 d Better is a handful of e quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7 u Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his f eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, g "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy h business.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For 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! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, i but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better was j a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how k to take advice. 14 For he went l from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that 1 youth who was to stand in the king's 2 place. 16 There 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 m vanity and a striving after wind.

  1. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 9:11
    Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
  2. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:16
    Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
  3. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:8
    If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
    Job 35:9
    Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
  4. Cross References
    Lamentations 1:2
    She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.
  5. Cross References
    Job 3:11 - 26
    Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?
  6. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:3
    If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
  7. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:14
    I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:10
    A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.
    Proverbs 24:33
    A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 9:20
    They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:16
    Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
  11. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:5
    Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.
  12. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 4:1
    Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
  13. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:8
    All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
    Proverbs 27:20
    Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
    1 John 2:16
    For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world.
  14. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:18
    I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
    Psalms 39:6
    Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
  15. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:13
    And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:1 - 4
    Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm.
  17. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 9:15 - 16
    But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:15
    The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 41:14
    Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.
    Genesis 41:41 - 43
    And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.
  20. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:14
    I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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