Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
World English Bible Catholic
In The King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
In Context
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Cross References
Proverbs 6:9How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?
Proverbs 6:11so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
Proverbs 12:27The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
Proverbs 20:4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Isaiah 9:20One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat 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 →