Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
In Context
6Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
Cross References
Proverbs 6:9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Proverbs 6:11So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 12:27The slothful man shall not hunt his prey; but the precious substance of men is to be diligent.
Proverbs 20:4The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Isaiah 9:20(9-19) And one snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; they eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
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 →