ECCLESIASTES, or the Preacher Chapter 4

(Original 1611 KJV Book of Ecclesiastes)

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 Original 1611 Bible Scan

CHAP. IV.

1 Vanitie is encreased vnto men by oppression, 4 By enuie, 5 By idlenesse, 7 By couetousnesse, 9 By solitarinesse, 13 By wilfulnesse.

¹So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne; & behold the teares of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the side of their oppressours there was power, but they had no comforter.¹

²Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more then the liuing which are yet aliue.²

³Yea better is he then both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seene the euill worke that is done vnder the Sunne.³

⁴¶ Againe I considered all trauaile, and euery right worke, that for this a man is enuied of his neighbour: this is also vanitie, and vexation of spirit.⁴

⁵The foole foldeth his hands together, and eateth his owne flesh.⁵

⁶Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then both the hands full with trauell and vexation of spirit.⁶

⁷¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanitie vnder the Sunne.

⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither childe nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither sayth hee, For whom doe I labour, and bereaue my soule of good? this is also vanitie, yea it is a sore trauell.

⁹¶ Two are better then one; because they haue a good reward for their labour.

¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift vp his fellow; but woe to him that is alone, when he falleth: for he hath not another to helpe him vp.

¹¹Againe, if two lye together, then they haue heate; but howe can one be warme alone?

¹²And if one preuaile against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold coard is not quickly broken.

¹³¶ Better is a poore and a wise child, then an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished.¹³

¹⁴For out of prison hee commeth to raigne, whereas also he that is borne in his kingdome, becommeth poore.

¹⁵I considered all the liuing which walke vnder the sunne, with the second child that shall stand vp in his stead.

¹⁶There is no end of all the people, euen of all that haue beene before them: they also that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

Original 1611 KJV Sidenote References for Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

¹ Chap.5.7. &c. , Heb. hand.
² Iob 3.17. &c.
³ Iob 3.11, 16,21.
⁴ Heb. all the rightnes of worke. , Heb. this is the enuie of a man from his neighbour.
⁵ Prou.6.10 and 24.33.
⁶ Prou. 15. 16. and 16. 18.
¹³ Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished.

* Some content courtesy of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania

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Ecclesiastes

1611 King James Version (KJV)

ECCLESIASTES, or the Preacher Chapter 4

(Original 1611 KJV Book of Ecclesiastes)