Ecclesiastes 4:4

2 ^aTherefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.

3 ^aYet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

The Vanity of Selfish Toil

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

5 ^aThe fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.

6 ^aBetter a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

8 There is one alone, without¹ companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his ^aeye satisfied with riches.
But ^bhe never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of ^cgood?”
This also is vanity and a¹ grave misfortune.

The Value of a Friend

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

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

<< Ecclesiastes 4:3

Ecclesiastes 4:5 >>

Definitions of words in Ecclesiastes 4:4:

Again {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

All {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Also {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

By {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
By {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

For {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

His {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Man {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Man {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Neighbor {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Saw {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Wind {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

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Ecclesiastes 4:5 >>

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The Vanity of Selfish Toil

The Value of a Friend

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning