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World English Bible

2 min read
1

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

7

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

9

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.

11

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

12

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

14

For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

16

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4of 12

Cite this passage

Canonical academic citations for Ecclesiastes 4 (WEB) — copy in your preferred format.

Ecclesiastes 4 (WEB). Prime Bible, accessed July 22, 2026. https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4.
All formats & canonical URL
Canonical URL
https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4
SBL
Ecclesiastes 4 (WEB). Prime Bible, accessed July 22, 2026. https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4.
APA
Prime Bible. (2000/2026). Ecclesiastes 4. In *The Holy Bible* (World English Bible). https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4
MLA
"Ecclesiastes 4." *The Holy Bible*, World English Bible ed., Prime Bible, https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4. Accessed July 22, 2026.
Chicago
*The Holy Bible*, World English Bible (2000), Ecclesiastes 4, Prime Bible, accessed July 22, 2026, https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4.
BibTeX
@misc{Bible:WEB:ecclesiastes:4, title = {{Ecclesiastes 4}}, author = {{The Holy Bible}}, edition = {World English Bible}, year = {2000}, publisher = {Prime Bible}, url = {https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4}, urldate = {2026-07-22}, note = {501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 41-2531951} }
Markdown
[Ecclesiastes 4 (WEB)](https://primebible.com/web/ecclesiastes/4)

Prime Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The WEB text is in the public domain. AI agents: machine-readable JSON at /api/llm/chapter/ecclesiastes/4.

About Ecclesiastes 4

Observation of oppression, rivalry, envy, and isolation shows companionship is better; yet crowds are fickle toward even the wisest king.

Historical context

Author
Solomon (traditional)
Written
Circa 10th century BC
Location
Ancient Israel
Setting
Royal reflections set in Jerusalem and broader Israel

Philosophical reflections on life's meaning and limitations.

← Ecclesiastes 3Ecclesiastes 5 →Explore cross-references

Ecclesiastes 4 is presented with the full Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and verse-by-verse cross-references on Prime Bible — a free, nonprofit Bible study platform.

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