Ecclésiaste 4:6

6 Mieux vaut une main pleine avec repos, que les deux mains pleines avec travail et poursuite du vent.

Ecclésiaste 4:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better [is] a handful [with] quietness
These are the words of the fool, according to Aben Ezra; and which is the sense of other interpreters, particularly Mr. Broughton, who connects this verse with ( Ecclesiastes 4:5 ) by adding at the end of that the word "saying"; making an excuse or an apology for himself and conduct, from the use and profitableness of his sloth; that little had with ease, and without toil and labour, is much better than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit;
than large possessions gotten with a great deal of trouble, and enjoyed with much vexation and uneasiness; in which he mistakes slothful ease for true quietness; calls honest labour and industry travail and vexation; and supposes that true contentment lies in the enjoyment of little, and cannot be had where there is much; whereas it is to be found in a good man in every state: or else these words express the true sentiments of Solomon's mind, steering between the two extremes of slothfulness, and too toilsome labour to be rich; that it is much more eligible to have a competency, though it is but small, with a good conscience, with tranquillity of mind, with the love and fear of God, and a contented heart, than to have a large estate, with great trouble and fatigue in getting and keeping it, especially with discontent and uneasiness; and this agrees with what the wise man says elsewhere, ( Proverbs 15:16 Proverbs 15:17 ) ( 17:1 ) . The Targum is,

``better to a man is a handful of food with quietness of soul, and without robbery and rapine, than two handfuls of food with robbery and rapine;''

or with what is gotten in an ill way.

Ecclésiaste 4:6 In-Context

4 J'ai vu que tout travail et toute habileté dans le travail n'est que jalousie de l'homme à l'égard de son prochain. C'est encore là une vanité et la poursuite du vent.

5 L'insensé se croise les mains, et mange sa propre chair.

6 Mieux vaut une main pleine avec repos, que les deux mains pleines avec travail et poursuite du vent.

7 J'ai considéré une autre vanité sous le soleil.

8 Tel homme est seul et sans personne qui lui tienne de près, il n'a ni fils ni frère, et pourtant son travail n'a point de fin et ses yeux ne sont jamais rassasiés de richesses. Pour qui donc est-ce que je travaille, et que je prive mon âme de jouissances? C'est encore là une vanité et une chose mauvaise.