Ecclesiastes 4:15

I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

In Context

14Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

16There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

2 Samuel 15:6And this Absalom did to everyone in Israel who came to the king to have his cause judged: so Absalom, like a thief, took away the hearts of the men of Israel.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:14-16

The Advantages of Society. 13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 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 spirit.… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 4:15