Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
BSB
ASV
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
KJV
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Let one who still doubts hear the testimony of the Gospel, for the Son of God said, "We have played for you, and you have not danced." The Jews who did not dance and knew not how to clap their hands were abandoned, but the Gentiles were called and applauded God in spirit. "The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh," that is, he becomes involved in the concerns of the body and eats his own flesh, just as does all-powerful death. And such a one will not find eternal life.
The fool foldeth his hands together,.... In order to get more sleep, or as unwilling to work; so the Targum adds, "he folds his hands in summer, and will not labour;'' see Pro 6:
Foldeth his hands - The envious man is here exhibited in the attitude of the sluggard (marginal references). Eateth his own flesh - i. e., “Destroys himself:” compare a similar expression in Isa 49:26; Psa 27:2; Mic 3:3.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
leads to
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
Through
Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
leads to
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,