Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.
Noyes Bible
In The King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
In Context
6Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
Cross References
Proverbs 6:9How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep?
Proverbs 6:11So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
Proverbs 12:27The slothful man shall not roast his game; But a precious treasure to any man is he that is diligent.
Proverbs 20:4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Isaiah 9:20They consume on the right hand, and yet are hungry; They devour on the left, and are not satisfied; Every one devoureth the flesh of his 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 →