New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 4:5
5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”
Ecclesiastes 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
- New International Version (NIV)Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.
Context of Ecclesiastes 4:5
3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun. 4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. “Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” 6And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” 7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 4Ecclesiastes 4:5 word by word
הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:5
- Proverbs 6:10A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
- Proverbs 12:27Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.
- Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
- Proverbs 20:4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
- Proverbs 24:33A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
- Job 13:14Why should I put myself in mortal danger and take my life in my own hands?
- Proverbs 11:17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
- Isaiah 9:20They will attack their neighbor on the right but will still be hungry. They will devour their neighbor on the left but will not be satisfied. In the end they will even eat their own children.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The fool foldeth his hands - After all, without labor and industry no man can get any comfort in life; and he who gives way to idleness is the veriest of fools.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Foldeth 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 Isaiah 49:26; Psalm 27:2; Micah 3:3.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. They often become great and prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more satisfaction in sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that is its own punishment. Let us by honest industry lay hold on the handful, that we…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Fools do not try to succeed and end up poor. Others work frantically, using all their time and effort, to chase temporary wealth they will not have time to enjoy (compare Proverbs 23:4–5). Wise people practice moderation and contentment (tranquility).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Still the fool (the wicked oppressor) is not to be envied even in this life, who "folds his hands together" in idleness (Pr 6:10; 24:33), living on the means he wrongfully wrests from others; for such a one eateth his own flesh--that is, is a self-tormentor, never satisfied, his spirit preying on itself (Is 9:20; 49:26).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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