{"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/dbt/ecclesiastes/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T22:35:26.938Z"},"reference":{"translation":"DBT","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":4,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":3,"nextChapter":5,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":16},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the 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 both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And I returned and saw vanity under the sun."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"There is one alone and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and he saith not, For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour."},{"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 who hath not another to lift him up!"},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And if a man overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"There is no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 4 (DBT)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 4](https://primebible.com/dbt/ecclesiastes/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* DBT. https://primebible.com/dbt/ecclesiastes/4 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}