Ecclesiastes 4:1
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.
¶ *†So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne; & behold the teares of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the side of their oppressours there was power, but they had no comforter.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. hand.
- *Cross-referenceChap.5.7. &c.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
PASSAGE SELECTION
Build from either side
Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.
SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
Cross References
5 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 1
- Ecclesiastes 3:16Rank 1 from verse 1
- Ecclesiastes 5:8Rank 2 from verse 1
8¶ If 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.
8¶ †If thou seest the oppression of the poore, and violent peruerting of iudgement, and iustice in a prouince, maruell not at the matter: for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and there be higher then they.
- 2 Timothy 4:16–17Rank 3 from verse 1
16At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
16At my first answere no man stood with mee, but all men forsooke mee: I pray God that it may not bee laid to their charge.
17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully knowen, and that all the Gentiles might heare: and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lyon.
- Isaiah 5:7Rank 4 from verse 1
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.
7††For the Uineyard of the LORD of hostes is the house of Israel, and the men of Iudah his pleasant plant: and he looked for iudgement, but beholde oppression; for righteousnesse, but behold a crie.
- Isaiah 51:23Rank 5 from verse 1
23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee: which haue said to thy soule, Bow downe that wee may goe ouer: and thou hast laide thy body as the ground, and as the streete to them that went ouer.
- Isaiah 59:13–15Rank 6 from verse 1
13In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
13In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and reuolt, conceiuing and vttering from the heart words of falshood.
14And iudgement is turned away backward, and iustice standeth a farre off: for truth is fallen in the streete, and equitie cannot enter.
15‖†Yea truth faileth, and he that departeth from euill maketh himselfe a pray: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him, that there was no iudgement.
4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
4Beholde, the hire of the labourers which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which is of you kept backe by fraud, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabaoth.
- Lamentations 1:2Rank 9 from verse 1
2She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
2Shee *weepeth sore in the *night, and her teares are on her cheekes: among all her louers she hath none to comfort her, all her friends haue dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
- Lamentations 1:9Rank 10 from verse 1
9Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
9Her filthines is in her skirts, she remembreth not her last end, therfore she came downe wonderfully: shee had no comforter: O LORD, behold my affliction: for y e enemie hath magnified himselfe.
- Malachi 3:5Rank 11 from verse 1
5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
5‖And I will come neere to you to iudgement, and I will bee a swift witnesse against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppresse the hireling in his wages, the widowe, and the fatherlesse, and that turne aside the stranger from his right, and feare not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Matthew 26:56Rank 12 from verse 1
- Psalms 12:5Rank 13 from verse 1
5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
5‖For the oppression of the poore, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the LORD,) I will set him in safetie from him that puffeth at him.
- Psalms 42:3Rank 14 from verse 1
- Psalms 42:9Rank 15 from verse 1
- Isaiah 59:7Rank 16 from verse 1
7Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
7*†Their feete runne to euill, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, wasting & destruction are in their paths.
- Deuteronomy 28:33Rank 17 from verse 1
- Deuteronomy 28:48Rank 18 from verse 1
48Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
48Therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies, which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakednesse, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke, vntill he haue destroyed thee.
- Ecclesiastes 7:7Rank 19 from verse 1
- Exodus 1:13–14Rank 20 from verse 1
13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serue with rigour.
14And they made their liues bitter, with hard bondage, in morter and in bricke, and in all maner of seruice in the fielde: all their seruice wherein they made them serue, was with rigour.
- Exodus 1:16Rank 21 from verse 1
16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew-women, and see them vpon the stooles, if it be a sonne, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then shee shall liue.
- Exodus 1:22Rank 22 from verse 1
- Exodus 2:23–24Rank 23 from verse 1
23¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
23¶ And it came to passe in processe of time, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came vp vnto God, by reason of the bondage.
24And God heard their groning, and God remembred his *Couenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Iacob.
- Exodus 5:16–19Rank 24 from verse 1
16There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.
17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.
18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
16There is no straw giuen vnto thy seruants, and they say to vs, Make bricke: and beholde, thy seruants are beaten; but the fault is in thine owne people.
17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let vs goe and doe sacrifice to the LORD.
18Goe therefore now and worke: for there shall no straw bee giuen you, yet shall ye deliuer the tale of brickes.
19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in euill case, after it was said, Yee shall not minish ought from your brickes of your dayly taske.
- Job 19:21–22Rank 26 from verse 1
21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
21Haue pity vpon me, haue pitie vpon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22Why doe ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
- Job 24:7–12Rank 27 from verse 1
7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they haue no couering in the cold.
8They are wet with the showres of the mountaines, and imbrace the rocke for want of a shelter.
9They plucke the fatherlesse from the brest, and take a pledge of the poore.
10They cause him to go naked without clothing: and they take away the sheafe from the hungry,
11 Which make oyle within their walles, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12Men groane from out of the city, and the soule of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
- Judges 10:7–8Rank 29 from verse 1
7And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
7And the anger of the LORD was hot agaiust Israel, and hee solde them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8And that yere they vexed and †oppressed the children of Israel: eighteene yeeres, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Iordan, in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
- Judges 4:3Rank 30 from verse 1
3And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
3And the children of Israel cried vnto the LORD: for he had nine hundred charets of yron: and twentie yeres hee mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
- Malachi 2:13Rank 31 from verse 1
13And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
13And this haue yee done againe, couering the Altar of the LORD with teares, with weeping and with crying out, in so much that hee regardeth not the offering any more, or receiueth it with good will at your hand.
- Malachi 3:18Rank 32 from verse 1
- Nehemiah 5:1–5Rank 33 from verse 1
1AND there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
1¶ And there was a great crie of the people, and of their wiues, against their brethren the Iewes.
2For there were that said, We, our sonnes, and our daughters are many: therefore wee take vp corne for them, that we may eat, and liue.
3 Some also there were that saide, We haue morgaged our landes, vineyards and houses, that we might buy corne, because of the dearth.
4There were also that said, Wee haue borrowed money for the kings tribute, and that vpon our lands and vineyards.
5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and loe, wee bring into bondage our sonnes and our daughters, to bee seruants, and some of our daughters are brought vnto bondage already, neither is it in our power to redeeme them: for other men haue our lands and vineyards.
- Proverbs 28:15–16Rank 34 from verse 1
15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
15 As a roaring lyon and a ranging beare: so is a wicked ruler ouer the poore people.
16The prince that wanteth vnderstanding, is also a great oppressour: but he that hateth couetousnesse, shall prolong his dayes.
- Proverbs 28:3Rank 35 from verse 1
- Psalms 10:9–10Rank 36 from verse 1
9He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
9†He lieth in waite secretly as a lyon in his denne, he lieth in wait to catch the poore: he doth catch the poore when he draweth him into his net.
10†‖He croucheth, and humbleth himselfe, that the poore may fall by his strong ones.
- Psalms 142:4Rank 37 from verse 1
- Psalms 69:20Rank 38 from verse 1
20Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
20Reproch hath broken my heart, and I am full of heauines: and I looked for some †to take pitie, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
- Psalms 80:5Rank 39 from verse 1
- Proverbs 19:7Rank 40 from verse 1
7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
7*All the brethren of the poore doe hate him: howe much more doe his friends goe farre from him? Hee pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
- Psalms 102:8–9Rank 41 from verse 1
8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
8Mine enemies reproch me all the day: and they that are mad against me, are sworne against me.
9For I haue eaten ashes like bread: and mingled my drinke with weeping.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
Open a word for its full definition and concordance.
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 4:1
Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of return, meaning to go, come, send, or give back; to restore, answer, or turn again.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
COMBINED MEANING
considered
Looked at, attended to, examined, or thought carefully about; took into account.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Drops of fluid shed from the eyes in weeping, grief, pain, or strong feeling.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of oppress, meaning to burden, crush, or treat with unjust severity or hardship.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604
One who comforts another in grief or distress.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: A lateral part, edge, or surface. Sense 2: A party or position in a dispute.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
COMBINED MEANING
oppressors
Persons who burden or treat others with unjust severity, force, or cruelty.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Ability, strength, force, or effective capacity to act, prevail, or produce an effect. Sense 2: Authority, right, permission, rule, dominion, or control. Sense 3: A person, authority, host, spiritual being, or other agent possessing or manifesting power.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828
READ BEFORE AND AFTER
Surrounding Verses
Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.
1SO 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.
1¶ *†So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne; & behold the teares of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the side of their oppressours there was power, but they had no comforter.
Selected passage2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2*Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more then the liuing which are yet aliue.