{"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/wbt/ecclesiastes/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T22:40:11.315Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WBT","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 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 who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Yes, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit."},{"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 the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a grievous labor."},{"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; for he hath not another to help him to rise."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Better is 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 he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"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."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 4 (WBT)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 4](https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WBT. https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/4 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}