Ecclesiastes 4:6
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
Catholic Public Domain Version
In The King James Version
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
In Context
5The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
7While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
Cross References
Proverbs 15:16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures and dissatisfaction.
Proverbs 16:8Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:5-7
The Prevalence of Oppression. 4 Again, 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. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, ch. ii.… Read the whole commentary →