The tears of the oppressed, 'and they had no comforter'. So the Preacher praises the dead more than the living, and the unborn most of all. Rivalry drives labor: a striving after wind. Better a handful with quietness than both hands full with travail. Then the arithmetic of companionship: 'Two are better than one… for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth… and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.' Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

Poetry · Solomon — Ecclesiastes overview

A. 1–6 The Tears of the Oppressed, and They Had No Comforter
B. 7–12 A Threefold Cord Is Not Quickly Broken
C. 13–16 Better a Poor Wise Youth Than an Old and Foolish King

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Ecclesiastes 22 verses
- Ecclesiastes 2:17So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 2:21When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.
- Read Ecclesiastes 2 →
Proverbs 272 verses
- Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
- Proverbs 27:20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
- Read Proverbs 27 →
1 Kings 12 verses
- 1 Kings 1:1Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
- 1 Kings 1:40All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
- Read 1 Kings 1 →
Ecclesiastes 11 verse
- Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
- Read Ecclesiastes 1 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Ecclesiastes 31 verse
- Ecclesiastes 3:16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
- Read Ecclesiastes 3 →
Ecclesiastes 51 verse
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
- Read Ecclesiastes 5 →
Isaiah 51 verse
- Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.
- Read Isaiah 5 →
Job 31 verse
- Job 3:11Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?
- Read Job 3 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.