Ecclesiastes 4

¹Again I looked, and Iאֲנִ֗י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → consideredוָאֶרְאֶה֙wā·’er·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the oppressionהָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔יםhā·‘ă·šu·qîm — Oppression, crushing burden, exploitationH6217 — Full Word Study → taking placeנַעֲשִׂ֖יםna·‘ă·śîm — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁhaš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →. I saw the tearsדִּמְעַ֣תdim·‘aṯ — tears, weepingH1832 — Full Word Study → of the oppressedהָעֲשֻׁקִ֗יםhā·‘ă·šu·qîm — Oppression, crushing burden, exploitationH6217 — Full Word Study →, and they had noוְאֵ֤יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → comforterמְנַחֵ֔םmə·na·ḥêm — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study →; the power lay in the handsוּמִיַּ֤דū·mî·yaḏ — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → of their oppressorsעֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙‘ō·šə·qê·hem — To oppress, defraud, or exploitH6231 — Full Word Study →, and there was noוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → comforterמְנַחֵֽם׃mə·na·ḥêm — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study →. ²So Iאֲנִ֛י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → admiredוְשַׁבֵּ֧חַwə·šab·bê·aḥ — To praise loudly; to commend or triumphH7623 — Full Word Study → the deadהַמֵּתִ֖יםham·mê·ṯîm — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, who had alreadyשֶׁכְּבָ֣רšek·kə·ḇār — Already, now, by this timeH3528 — Full Word Study → diedמֵ֑תוּmê·ṯū — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, aboveמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → the livingהַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha·ḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →, whoאֲשֶׁ֛ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → are stillעֲדֶֽנָה׃‘ă·ḏe·nāh — yet, still, furthermoreH5728 — Full Word Study → aliveחַיִּ֖יםḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →. ³But betterוְטוֹב֙wə·ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → than bothמִשְּׁנֵיהֶ֔םmiš·šə·nê·hem — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → is he whoאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → has notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → yetעֲדֶ֖ן‘ă·ḏen — yet, still, furthermoreH5728 — Full Word Study → existedהָיָ֑הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study →, whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → has notלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → seenרָאָה֙rā·’āh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the evilהָרָ֔עhā·rā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → is doneנַעֲשָׂ֖הna·‘ă·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֥חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃haš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →. ⁴Iאֲנִ֜י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → sawוְרָאִ֨יתִֽיwə·rā·’î·ṯî — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → that allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → laborעָמָ֗ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → andוְאֵת֙wə·’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → successכִּשְׁר֣וֹןkiš·rō·wn — Skill, prudence, or proper conductH3788 — Full Word Study → spring fromכִּ֛יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → a man’sאִ֖ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → envyקִנְאַת־qin·’aṯ- — zealous passion; jealousy; fervent intensityH7068 — Full Word Study → of his neighborמֵרֵעֵ֑הוּmê·rê·‘ê·hū — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study →. Thisזֶ֥הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → tooגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → is futileהֶ֖בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → and a pursuitוּרְע֥וּתū·rə·‘ūṯ — longing, desire, cravingH7469 — Full Word Study → of the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. ⁵The foolהַכְּסִיל֙hak·kə·sîl — fool, foolish personH3684 — Full Word Study → foldsחֹבֵ֣קḥō·ḇêq — to embrace, clasp, or hold closelyH2263 — Full Word Study → his handsיָדָ֔יוyā·ḏāw — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → and consumesוְאֹכֵ֖לwə·’ō·ḵêl — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → his own fleshבְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃bə·śā·rōw — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study →. ⁶Betterט֕וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → one handfulמְלֹ֥אmə·lō — Fullness, abundance, or that which fillsH4393 — Full Word Study → with tranquilityנָ֑חַתnā·ḥaṯ — Rest, quiet, repose, or reliefH5183 — Full Word Study → than two handfulsמִמְּלֹ֥אmim·mə·lō — Fullness, abundance, or that which fillsH4393 — Full Word Study → with toilעָמָ֖ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → and pursuitוּרְע֥וּתū·rə·‘ūṯ — longing, desire, cravingH7469 — Full Word Study → of the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. ⁷Againוְשַׁ֧בְתִּיwə·šaḇ·tî — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →, Iאֲנִ֛י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → sawוָאֶרְאֶ֥הwā·’er·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → futilityהֶ֖בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֥חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃haš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →. ⁸There isיֵ֣שׁyêš — there is, exists, has beingH3426 — Full Word Study → aאֶחָד֩’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → man all aloneוְאֵ֨יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study →, withoutאֵֽין־’ên- — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → evenגַּ֣םgam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → a sonבֵּ֧ןbên — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → or brotherוָאָ֣חwā·’āḥ — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study →. And though there is noוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → endקֵץ֙qêṣ — end, boundary, limit, terminusH7093 — Full Word Study → to his laborעֲמָל֔וֹ‘ă·mā·lōw — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study →, his eyesעֵינָיוʿē·nå̄w — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → are stillגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → contentתִשְׂבַּ֣עṯiś·ba‘ — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → with his wealthעֹ֑שֶׁר‘ō·šer — Riches, wealth, abundance of possessionsH6239 — Full Word Study →: “For whomוּלְמִ֣י׀ū·lə·mî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → do Iאֲנִ֣י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → toilעָמֵ֗ל‘ā·mêl — laborer; toil; trouble; miseryH6001 — Full Word Study → and bereaveוּמְחַסֵּ֤רū·mə·ḥas·sêr — to lack, be deficient, wantH2637 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁי֙nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → of enjoymentמִטּוֹבָ֔הmiṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →?” Thisזֶ֥הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → tooגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → is futileהֶ֛בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →—a miserableרָ֖עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → taskוְעִנְיַ֥ןwə·‘in·yan — task, business, or occupation; labor or work undertakenH6045 — Full Word Study →. ⁹Twoהַשְּׁנַ֖יִםhaš·šə·na·yim — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → are betterטוֹבִ֥יםṭō·w·ḇîm — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → thanמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → oneהָאֶחָ֑דhā·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study →, becauseאֲשֶׁ֧ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → they haveיֵשׁ־yêš- — there is, exists, has beingH3426 — Full Word Study → a goodט֖וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → returnשָׂכָ֥רśā·ḵār — wages, payment, compensation for laborH7939 — Full Word Study → for their laborבַּעֲמָלָֽם׃ba·‘ă·mā·lām — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁰Forכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → oneהָאֶחָ֖דhā·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → falls downיִפֹּ֔לוּyip·pō·lū — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study →, his companionחֲבֵר֑וֹḥă·ḇê·rōw — companion, partner, associateH2270 — Full Word Study → can lift him upיָקִ֣יםyā·qîm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →; but pityוְאִ֣יל֗וֹwə·’î·lōw — Woe; an exclamation of lament, grief, or distressH337 — Full Word Study → the oneהָֽאֶחָד֙hā·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → who fallsשֶׁיִּפּ֔וֹלše·yip·pō·wl — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → withoutוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → anotherשֵׁנִ֖יšê·nî — second; again; another; otherH8145 — Full Word Study → to help him upלַהֲקִימֽוֹ׃la·hă·qî·mōw — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →! ¹¹Againגַּ֛םgam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study →, ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → twoשְׁנַ֖יִםšə·na·yim — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → lie down togetherיִשְׁכְּב֥וּyiš·kə·ḇū — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study →, they will keep warmוְחַ֣םwə·ḥam — to grow warm, kindle heat, become hotH2552 — Full Word Study →; but howאֵ֥יךְ’êḵ — How? In what way? Where?H349 — Full Word Study → can oneוּלְאֶחָ֖דū·lə·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → keep warm alone? ¹²And thoughוְאִֽם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → oneהָאֶחָ֔דhā·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → may be overpoweredיִתְקְפוֹ֙yiṯ·qə·p̄ōw — to prevail, overcome, be strong againstH8630 — Full Word Study →, twoהַשְּׁנַ֖יִםhaš·šə·na·yim — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → can resistיַעַמְד֣וּya·‘am·ḏū — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study →. Moreover, a cordוְהַחוּט֙wə·ha·ḥūṭ — cord, thread, or lineH2339 — Full Word Study → of threeהַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁham·šul·lāš — To divide into three parts; to do a third timeH8027 — Full Word Study → strands is notלֹ֥אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → quicklyבִמְהֵרָ֖הḇim·hê·rāh — Haste, speed, urgency of actionH4120 — Full Word Study → brokenיִנָּתֵֽק׃yin·nā·ṯêq — To tear away, pull out, or uproot violentlyH5423 — Full Word Study →. ¹³Betterט֛וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → is a poorמִסְכֵּ֖ןmis·kên — A poor person; one in poverty or needH4542 — Full Word Study → but wiseוְחָכָ֑םwə·ḥā·ḵām — Wise, skilled, or cunning in understanding and discernmentH2450 — Full Word Study → youthיֶ֥לֶדye·leḏ — Child, boy, or young person; offspringH3206 — Full Word Study → than an oldזָקֵן֙zā·qên — An old person; an elder with authority and wisdomH2205 — Full Word Study → but foolishוּכְסִ֔ילū·ḵə·sîl — fool, foolish personH3684 — Full Word Study → kingמִמֶּ֤לֶךְmim·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → whoאֲשֶׁ֛ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → longerעֽוֹד׃‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → knowsיָדַ֥עyā·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → how to take a warningלְהִזָּהֵ֖רlə·hiz·zā·hêr — to warn, caution, or enlighten with instructionH2094 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁴Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the youth has come from the prisonמִבֵּ֥יתmib·bêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → to the kingshipלִמְלֹ֑ךְlim·lōḵ — to reign; to rule as kingH4427 — Full Word Study →, thoughכִּ֛יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → he was bornנוֹלַ֥דnō·w·laḏ — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → poorרָֽשׁ׃rāš — To be poor, lack, or become destituteH7326 — Full Word Study → in his own kingdomבְּמַלְכוּת֖וֹbə·mal·ḵū·ṯōw — kingdom, royal rule, sovereigntyH4438 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁵I saw thatרָאִ֙יתִי֙rā·’î·ṯî — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who livedהַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha·ḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → and walkedהַֽמְהַלְּכִ֖יםham·hal·lə·ḵîm — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁhaš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study → followedעִ֚ם‘im — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → this second oneהַשֵּׁנִ֔יhaš·šê·nî — second; again; another; otherH8145 — Full Word Study →, the youthהַיֶּ֣לֶדhay·ye·leḏ — Child, boy, or young person; offspringH3206 — Full Word Study → whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → succeededיַעֲמֹ֖דya·‘ă·mōḏ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → the king. ¹⁶There is noאֵֽין־’ên- — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → limitקֵ֣ץqêṣ — end, boundary, limit, terminusH7093 — Full Word Study → to allלְכָל־lə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the peopleהָעָ֗םhā·‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → whoאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → wereהָיָה֙hā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → before themלִפְנֵיהֶ֔םlip̄·nê·hem — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. Yetגַּ֥םgam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → the successor will notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be celebratedיִשְׂמְחוּ־yiś·mə·ḥū- — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → by those who come even laterהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֖יםhā·’a·ḥă·rō·w·nîm — Last, final, or later in time or orderH314 — Full Word Study →. Thisזֶ֥הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → tooכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → is futileהֶ֖בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → and a pursuitוְרַעְי֥וֹןwə·ra‘·yō·wn — Striving, vexation, agitation of mindH7475 — Full Word Study → of the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →.