Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
Majority Standard Bible
In The King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
In Context
6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
Cross References
Proverbs 6:9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
Proverbs 6:11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Proverbs 12:27A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Isaiah 9:20They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
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 →