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 2:17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Ecclesiastes 2:21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
- Read Ecclesiastes 2 →
Proverbs 272 verses
- Proverbs 27:17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
- Proverbs 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
- Read Proverbs 27 →
1 Kings 12 verses
- 1 Kings 1:1Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
- 1 Kings 1:40And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
- Read 1 Kings 1 →
Ecclesiastes 11 verse
- Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Read Ecclesiastes 1 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Ecclesiastes 31 verse
- Ecclesiastes 3:16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
- Read Ecclesiastes 3 →
Ecclesiastes 51 verse
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
- 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 his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
- Read Isaiah 5 →
Job 31 verse
- Job 3:11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
- Read Job 3 →

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