{"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/kjv/ecclesiastes/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-31T20:37:20.714Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":4,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":3,"nextChapter":5,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":16},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of <i>such as were</i> oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors <i>there was</i> power; but they had no comforter."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Yea, better <i>is he</i> than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This <i>is</i> also vanity and vexation of spirit."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Better <i>is</i> an handful <i>with</i> quietness, than both the hands full <i>with</i> travail and vexation of spirit."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"There is one <i>alone</i>, and <i>there is</i> not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet <i>is there</i> no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither <i>saith he</i>, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This <i>is</i> also vanity, yea, it <i>is</i> a sore travail."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Two <i>are</i> 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 <i>that is</i> alone when he falleth; for <i>he hath</i> not another to help him up."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm <i>alone</i>?"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Better <i>is</i> a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also <i>he that is</i> born in his kingdom becometh poor."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"<i>There is</i> no end of all the people, <i>even</i> of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also <i>is</i> vanity and vexation of spirit."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 4 (KJV)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 4](https://primebible.com/kjv/ecclesiastes/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/ecclesiastes/4 (accessed 2026-05-31)."}}