Bible for Soul
Book 21 of 66 · Poetry & Wisdom

EcclesiastesChapter 4 · kingship and help and protection

16 verses2 sections3 min readWisdomComplete KJV text

Ecclesiastes 4 contains 16 verses in the King James Version. This page presents the complete chapter, a section-by-section outline, and direct links to every verse. Its recurring subjects include kingship, help and protection, and suffering and endurance.

Chapter at a glance

What is in Ecclesiastes 4?

The chapter opens, “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…” It closes in verse 16, “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…” The outline below follows the text in order.

Primary themes
kingshiphelp and protectionsuffering and endurance
Passage
Ecclesiastes 4:1–16
Reading time
About 3 minutes · 380 words
Section-by-section outline

Ecclesiastes 4 outline

Read the full chapter
  1. Verses 1–12

    Help and Protection · Suffering and Endurance

    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…

  2. Verses 13–16

    Kingship

    Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

King James Version · complete chapter

Ecclesiastes 4 KJV

1So 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. 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For 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 up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16There 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.