Ecclesiastes 4:4-16

Ecclesiastes 4:4-16

[4] Again, I considered  all travail,  and every right  work,  that for this a man  is envied  of his neighbour.  This is also vanity  and vexation  of spirit.  [5] The fool  his hands  together,  and eateth  his own flesh.  [6] Better  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:  yet is there no end  of all his labour;  neither is his eye  satisfied  with riches;  neither saith he, For whom do I labour,  and bereave  my soul  of good?  This is also vanity,  yea, it is a sore  travail.  [9] Two  are better  than one;  because they have  a good  reward  for their labour.  [10] For 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,  if 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 a threefold  cord  is not quickly  broken.  [13] Better  is a poor  and a wise  child  than an old  and foolish  king,  who will  no more be admonished.  [14] he cometh  to reign;  whereas also he 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  [16] There 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. Surely this also is vanity  and vexation  of spirit. 

What does Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The phrase "vanity and striving after wind" ( Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 4:16) brackets this section. This structure emphasizes the relative vapidity of everything between these statements. The main theme seems to be "the power complex common among humans and ways of reacting to it." [1]