Chapter Book
Loading
Change Translation
Loading...
  • Recent Translations
  • All Translations

Ecclesiastes 4:2-12

Share

Settings

2 And I 1thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 But 2better 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 3vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool 4folds his hands and 5eats his own flesh.
6 6Better is a handful of 7quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 8Again, 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 9eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, 10"For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy 11business.
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, 12but 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.
Read Chapter Compare

Images for Ecclesiastes 4:2-12

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ecclesiastes 4:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 4

In this chapter the wise man reassumes the consideration of the case of the abuse of power, to show that there is no happiness in this world, in grandeur and authority enjoyed; since, as he had observed before, on the one hand, the oppressor shall be judged and condemned at the great day of account; so, on the other hand, the oppressed have their lives made so uncomfortable, that the dead are preferred unto them, and unborn persons to them both, Ec 4:1-3; Another vanity he observes, that whereas men expect to be happy by their diligence and industry, this brings upon them the envy of others, Ec 4:4; hence some, on the other hand, place their happiness in sloth and ease, which is another vanity, Ec 4:5,6; and others again in covetousness; who are described by their unsocial life, toilsome labour, unsatisfied desires, and withholding good things from themselves, Ec 4:7,8; upon which some things are said, to show the benefits of a social life, Ec 4:9-12. And the chapter is concluded with exposing the vanity of the highest instance of worldly power and grandeur, royal dignity, through the folly of a king; the effects of which are mentioned, Ec 4:13,14; and through the fickleness of the people, who are soon weary of a prince on the throne, and court his successor, Ec 4:15,16.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

  • 1. See Job 3:11-26
  • 2. Ecclesiastes 6:3
  • 3. See Ecclesiastes 1:14
  • 4. Proverbs 6:10; Proverbs 24:33
  • 5. [Isaiah 9:20]
  • 6. See Proverbs 15:16
  • 7. Ecclesiastes 6:5
  • 8. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 9. Ecclesiastes 1:8; [Proverbs 27:20; 1 John 2:16]
  • 10. Ecclesiastes 2:18; Psalms 39:6
  • 11. See Ecclesiastes 1:13
  • 12. See 1 Kings 1:1-4
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.