Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
In Context
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Cross References
Genesis 2:18And the LORD God said: 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.'
Psalms 39:6(39-7) Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Proverbs 27:20The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated.
Ecclesiastes 1:13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecclesiastes 5:10(5-9) He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:8-13
The Vanity of Human Wishes. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There 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. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is… Read the whole commentary →