Ecclesiastes 4 (NET)

Ecclesiastes 4:1¹So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 3:16Eccl 5:8Isa 5:72 Tim 4:16-17Isa 51:23Isa 59:13-15Jas 5:4Job 35:9Lam 1:2Lam 1:9

Ecclesiastes 4:2²So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Job 3:11-26Eccl 2:17Eccl 9:4-6

Ecclesiastes 4:3³But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Luke 23:29Eccl 6:3-5Matt 24:19Eccl 2:17Jer 20:17-18Jer 9:2-3Job 10:18-19Job 3:10-16Job 3:22Ps 55:6-11

Ecclesiastes 4:4⁴Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless—like chasing the wind.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 John 3:12Eccl 1:14Eccl 2:21Eccl 2:261 Sam 18:14-161 Sam 18:29-301 Sam 18:8-9Eccl 4:16Eccl 6:9Gen 37:2-11

Ecclesiastes 4:5⁵The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Isa 9:20Prov 6:10-11Prov 13:4Job 13:14Prov 20:4Prov 11:17Prov 12:27Prov 24:33-34

Ecclesiastes 4:6⁶Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 15:16-17Prov 16:8Ps 37:16Prov 17:1

Ecclesiastes 4:7⁷So I again considered another futile thing on earth:Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 4:1Ps 78:33Zech 1:6

Ecclesiastes 4:8⁸A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 John 2:16Prov 27:20Luke 12:20Eccl 1:8Eccl 1:13Matt 11:28Eccl 4:9-12Eccl 5:10Gen 2:18Isa 5:8

Ecclesiastes 4:9⁹Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 27:17Gen 2:181 Cor 12:18-21Mark 6:7Num 11:14John 4:36Ruth 2:12Acts 13:2Exod 4:14-16Hag 1:14

Ecclesiastes 4:10¹⁰For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Thess 5:111 Thess 4:18Gal 6:1Isa 35:3-4Job 4:3-41 Sam 23:16Luke 22:31-32

Ecclesiastes 4:11¹¹Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 1:1-4

Ecclesiastes 4:12¹²Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Dan 3:16-17Eph 4:3

Ecclesiastes 4:13¹³A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Chr 25:16Prov 19:12 Chr 16:9-10Prov 28:15-161 Kgs 22:8Eccl 9:15-16Gen 37:2Prov 28:62 Chr 24:20-22

Ecclesiastes 4:14¹⁴For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Gen 41:14Ps 113:7-8Job 5:11Lam 4:202 Kgs 24:122 Kgs 24:62 Kgs 25:27-302 Kgs 25:7Dan 4:31Gen 41:33-44

Ecclesiastes 4:15¹⁵I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:2 Sam 15:6

Ecclesiastes 4:16¹⁶There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 1:141 Kgs 1:40Eccl 2:171 Kgs 1:5-71 Kgs 12:10-162 Sam 15:12-132 Sam 18:7-82 Sam 19:9Eccl 2:11Eccl 2:26