Increase of pointlessness by oppression, envy and idleness
4:1 So I returned, and considered all the acts of oppression that are committed under the sun: Look! Tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them; and their oppressors have the power, with no one to comfort them.
4:2 So I considered the dead happier because they are already dead more than the living who are still alive.
4:3 but better וְטוֹב
Transliteration: vᵊṭôḇ – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here than either of them [is the one] who has not yet been born, and who has not seen the evilהָרָע
Transliteration: raʿ – In the KJV is translated in the following manner: evil (442x), wickedness (59x), wicked (25x), mischief (21x), hurt (20x), bad (13x), trouble (10x), sore (9x), affliction (6x), ill (5x), adversity (4x), ill favored (3x), harm (3x), naught (3x), noisome (2x), grievous (2x), sad (2x), miscellaneous (34x) For more info click here work that is done under the sun.
4:4 Again, I saw all effort, and all skillful enterprise come from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This is too pointless and vexation of the spiritרוּחַ
Transliteration: rûaḥ – Meaning: the wind, the breath, the mind, the spirit For more info click here.
4:5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh* i.e. the fool destroys himself. (Ibn Ezra). – From the Artscroll English Tanach.
4:6 Betterטוֹב
Transliteration:ṭôḇ Pronunciation:tobe – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here one handful of pleasantness than both fistfuls of effort and vexation of the spiritרוּחַ
Transliteration: rûaḥ – Meaning: the wind, the breath, the mind, the spirit For more info click here.* It is better for a man to earn less, but with tranquility and quiet, than to earn much more through difficult labor and aggravation (Metzudos). – From the Artscroll English Tanach
By covetousness and wilfulness too
4:7 Then I returned, and I saw pointlessness under the sun.
4:8 Alone and solitary man who has neither child or brother: yet is there no end to his labor; or is his eye ever satisfied with riches; [or does he ask himself], For whom am I working, and depriving myselfנַפְשִׁי
Transliteration: nap̄šî Hebrew Noun: Common Both Singular Construct – Meaning: my soul, myself, my life, my creature, my person, my appetite, my mind, my living being, my desire, my emotion, my passion For more info click here of goodמִטּוֹבָה
Transliteration: miṭṭôḇâ – from good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here? This, too, is pointless, yes, it is a sorry occupation.
4:9 Two [are] betterטוֹבִים
Transliteration: ṭôḇîm – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here than one; because they get goodטוֹב
Transliteration:ṭôḇ Pronunciation:tobe – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here wages for their labor.
4:10 Because if they fall, the one can lift the other: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; and there is no one to lift to him up.
4:11 Also, if two sleep together, then they keep warm: but how can one be warm alone?
4:12 And if one can be overpowered, two can resist him; A three-ply cord isn’t easily broken.
4:13 Betterטוֹב
Transliteration:ṭôḇ Pronunciation:tobe – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair. For more info click here is a poor but wise child than an old and foolish king, no longer willing to listen to advice.
4:14 Because out of prison he came out to reign; yet, while ruling, he became poor.
4:15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, throng to the succeeding youth who steps in his place.
4:16 There is no limit to the number of his subjects, all that was before them: also the ones that come later won’t rejoice in him. Because this too is pointless and vexation of the spiritרוּחַ
Transliteration: rûaḥ – Meaning: the wind, the breath, the mind, the spirit – For more info click here.
The first verse in chapter 5 is considered verse 17 of this chapter in the Tanach
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