## Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

###### Ecclesiastes 4:1
[Ecclesiastes 4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:1)

וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה**׀** דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I returned and considered all the oppressions that are committed under the sun; and behold, tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them, and from the hand of their oppressors [flows the] power—with no one to comfort them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I again saw [(by the Holy Spirit)] all of those who are scourged [(in Gehinnom) for the deeds] which are done in exchange for the sun [of Torah]. And, behold, the tears of the oppressed, [(weeping for their souls, that are scourged by destructive angels, viz. Psalms 87:4)], and who have no consoler. And in the hand of their scourgers there is power [(which they cannot resist)]; and they have no consoler.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:2
[Ecclesiastes 4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:2)

וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And so I praised the dead who already died; more than the living who are still alive.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I praise the dead, who have already died [(before the evil inclination could gain control of them and thrust them away from the L-rd)] more than the living who are still alive.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:3
[Ecclesiastes 4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:3)

וְטוֹב֙ מִשְּׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־עֲדֶ֖ן לֹ֣א הָיָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה הָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And better than both of these is he who has not yet been born; who has not seen the evil deed that is committed under the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
but better than both of them is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil deed which is done under the sun.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:4
[Ecclesiastes 4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:4)

וְרָאִ֨יתִֽי אֲנִ֜י אֶת־כׇּל־עָמָ֗ל וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־כִּשְׁר֣וֹן הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֛י הִ֥יא קִנְאַת־אִ֖ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I observed that all labor and all skillful work is the result of man’s envy of his neighbor; this, too, is vanity and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Again, I considered all labour, and every skill in work, that it comes from a man’s rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I saw all the "toil" [i.e., transgressions] and all the perfection of deed [(motivated not by fear of Heaven, but)] by the envy of one man for another — this, too, is vanity and breaking of spirit.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:5
[Ecclesiastes 4:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:5)

הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The fool [(the wicked one)] folds his hands [(in sloth and eats from theft)], and he "eats his flesh" [(on the day of judgment, witnessing the glory of the righteous and his own undoing)].


###### Ecclesiastes 4:6
[Ecclesiastes 4:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:6)

ט֕וֹב מְלֹ֥א כַ֖ף נָ֑חַת מִמְּלֹ֥א חׇפְנַ֛יִם עָמָ֖ל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Better is a handful [earned] in contentment; than two handfuls [earned] in labor and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better a handful of gratification [(acquiring few possessions by one's labor, which pleases the Creator)] than two handfuls of toil and breaking of spirit [(acquiring many possessions by transgression and perverseness)].


###### Ecclesiastes 4:7
[Ecclesiastes 4:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:7)

וְשַׁ֧בְתִּי אֲנִ֛י וָאֶרְאֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I returned and observed [another form of] vanity under the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I again saw vanity under the sun.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:8
[Ecclesiastes 4:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:8)

יֵ֣שׁ אֶחָד֩ וְאֵ֨ין שֵׁנִ֜י גַּ֣ם בֵּ֧ן וָאָ֣ח אֵֽין־ל֗וֹ וְאֵ֥ין קֵץ֙ לְכׇל־עֲמָל֔וֹ גַּם־[עֵינ֖וֹ] (עיניו) לֹא־תִשְׂבַּ֣ע עֹ֑שֶׁר וּלְמִ֣י**׀** אֲנִ֣י עָמֵ֗ל וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר אֶת־נַפְשִׁי֙ מִטּוֹבָ֔ה גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֛בֶל וְעִנְיַ֥ן רָ֖ע הֽוּא׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
There is one who is alone, with none other beside him, he has neither son nor brother; yet there is no end to his labor, neither is his eye ever satisfied with riches; [nor does he ask himself] For whom do I labor and deprive myself of goodness? this too is vanity, and an evil matter.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is one alone, without a companion; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches: he may say, For whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity; indeed, it is a sorry business.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There is one [(who acts alone)] with no second. Neither a son [(a disciple)] nor a brother [(a companion)] has he; and there is no end to all his toil. His eye [i.e., his intellect], too, will not be sated with wealth [(learning)]. And for whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of good [(if I do not set up disciples)]? This, too, is vanity and ill conduct.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:9
[Ecclesiastes 4:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:9)

טוֹבִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָלָֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Two are better than one; because they receive a goodly reward for their work.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[(In all areas,)] better the two than the one, who have goodly reward of their toil.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:10
[Ecclesiastes 4:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:10)

כִּ֣י אִם־יִפֹּ֔לוּ הָאֶחָ֖ד יָקִ֣ים אֶת־חֲבֵר֑וֹ וְאִ֣יל֗וֹ הָֽאֶחָד֙ שֶׁיִּפּ֔וֹל וְאֵ֥ין שֵׁנִ֖י לַהֲקִימֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and there is no one to lift him.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For if they fall, the one will raise up his fellow; but woe to the one who falls and has no second to raise him.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:11
[Ecclesiastes 4:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:11)

גַּ֛ם אִם־יִשְׁכְּב֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם וְחַ֣ם לָהֶ֑ם וּלְאֶחָ֖ד אֵ֥יךְ יֵחָֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Also, if two lie together they can be warm; but how can one be warm alone?

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm alone?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Also, if two lie down together, it is warm for them; but how shall one be warmed?


###### Ecclesiastes 4:12
[Ecclesiastes 4:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:12)

וְאִֽם־יִתְקְפוֹ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And if an individual attacks, the two of them can stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly severed.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; but a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And if the one be attacked, the two will stand up against him; and [how much more so is] the three-fold cord not quickly sundered!


###### Ecclesiastes 4:13
[Ecclesiastes 4:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:13)

ט֛וֹב יֶ֥לֶד מִסְכֵּ֖ן וְחָכָ֑ם מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ זָקֵן֙ וּכְסִ֔יל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָדַ֥ע לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר עֽוֹד׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Better a poor but wise child; than an old and foolish king, who no longer knows how to be vigilant.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who no longer knows how to take care of himself.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better a child [(the good inclination, which asserts itself in a male at the age of thirteen)], poor [(the limbs not obeying it as they do the evil inclination)], and wise [(directing one to the way of good)], than a king [(the evil inclination, which rules over all the limbs)], old [(asserting itself from birth, viz. Genesis 4:7)] and foolish [(directing one to the way of evil)], which can no longer take heed [(having grown rooted in its ways)].


###### Ecclesiastes 4:14
[Ecclesiastes 4:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:14)

כִּֽי־מִבֵּ֥ית הָסוּרִ֖ים יָצָ֣א לִמְלֹ֑ךְ כִּ֛י גַּ֥ם בְּמַלְכוּת֖וֹ נוֹלַ֥ד רָֽשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Even though he [the child] emerged from prison to be king; even though in his own kingdom he was born a pauper.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For out of prison one came forth to reign; whilst another in his royal power may become poor.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For [(in the end, men will say that)] from the prison-house has he [(the poor one)] gone forth to reign. [And it is, indeed, right that he do so,] for even in his reigning he assumes [i.e., invests himself with] humility.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:15
[Ecclesiastes 4:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:15)

רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים הַֽמְהַלְּכִ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עִ֚ם הַיֶּ֣לֶד הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I observed that all the living that walk under the sun were supportive of the young successor who stepped into his place.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I saw all the living who wander under the sun – they were with the second child who was to rise up in his stead.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I have seen all the living who walk under the sun with the second child, which arises after him.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:16
[Ecclesiastes 4:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:16)

אֵֽין־קֵ֣ץ לְכׇל־הָעָ֗ם לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם גַּ֥ם הָאַחֲרוֹנִ֖ים לֹ֣א יִשְׂמְחוּ־ב֑וֹ כִּֽי־גַם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
There was no limit to all the peoples, to all of them whom he lead; even though [it is so now] those who come after [the next generation] will not rejoice in him; for this, too, is vanity and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is no end of all the people who come to acclaim the one who goes before them: yet they who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There is no end to all the people, to all [the good] that was before them. The latter ones, too, will not rejoice in it. For this, too, is [the outcome of] vanity and breaking of spirit.


###### Ecclesiastes 4:17
[Ecclesiastes 4:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/4:17)

שְׁמֹ֣ר (רגליך) [רַגְלְךָ֗] כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תֵּלֵךְ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקָר֣וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ מִתֵּ֥ת הַכְּסִילִ֖ים זָ֑בַח כִּֽי־אֵינָ֥ם יוֹדְעִ֖ים לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָֽע׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Guard your foot when you go to the House of God, come near and listen rather than offer sacrifices like the fools; for they do not know that they do evil.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; to draw near to hearken is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Guard your feet when you go to the house of G-d [(that you bring the proper sacrifice there)]. And be close(r) to hear [(the word of G-d)] than to bring sacrifice as the fools do, [(sinning and sacrificing)]; for they know not that they do evil [thereby].