{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T22:35:45.555Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ASV","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":4,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":3,"nextChapter":5,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":16},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"yea, better than them both did I esteem him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then,'saith he , do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone ?"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 4 (ASV)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 4](https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ASV. https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/4 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}