Self-interpreting Bible

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Ecclesiastes 4

1The vanity of human life increased by oppression; 4and by envy. 5The absurdity of idleness. 6The good of contentment. 7The folly and misery of covetousness. 9The advantages of society. 13The 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

    • *: stead-place.

    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.