Ecclesiastes 4:1
Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. 1 And behold, the tears of oppressed people, 2 and they had no one to comfort them! 1 Power was in the hand of their oppressors, 2 and there was no one to comfort them! 1
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In Context
2So I considered those who are already dead 2 more fortunate than the living, who are still alive. 1
Cross References
Exodus 1:16He said, “When you assist the Hebrew women on the birthstool, observe when they give birth. If it is a son, then you must kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she may live.”
Exodus 2:23A long time later, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out for help, and their pleas went up to God because of their bondage.
Exodus 5:18So now go back to work. No more straw will be given to you, but you must still make the same number of bricks.”
Deuteronomy 28:48therefore will you serve the enemies that Yahweh will send against you; you will serve them in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in poverty. He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he destroys you.
Judges 10:7Yahweh burned with anger toward Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites.
Job 6:29Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; 1 Indeed, relent, for my cause is just. 1
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:1
Solomon, having shown the vanity of this world in the temptation which those in power feel to oppress and trample upon their subjects, here further shows, I. The temptation which the oppressed feel to discontent and impatience, ver. 1-3 . II. The temptation which those that love their case feel to take their case and neglect business, for fear of being envied, ver. 4-6 . III. The folly of hoarding up abundance of worldly wealth, ver. 7, 8 . IV. A remedy against that folly, in being made sensible of the benefit of… Read the whole commentary →