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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 4
Oppression and evil work are vanity—The strength of two is better than one—Better
is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king.
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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.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the
livinga which are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
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2 a I praised the dead which are already dead more than the
living Because of Solomon's aged position he had a warp sense of what was. He finds
no comfort in the living whether wise or foolish for he has no sense of what the reward of live
could and should be, and that is the attainment of righteousness in the Lord unto an eternal
reward where one's 'light of truth' multiplies into glory as is the intelligence of God His
Glory (See Commentary of Eccl. 2 and 3).
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4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for
this a man is aenvied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and
bvexation of spirit.
5 The afool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his
own flesh.
6 Better is an ahandful with
bquietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of
spirit.
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4a
Gen. 26:14
b
Eccl. 1:14
5a
2 Ne. 9:28
6a
Prov. 15:16
b
TG
Silence
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7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw avanity under the
sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he
hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his
eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and
abereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a
bsore travail.
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7a
TG
Vanity
8a
OR deprive myself
b
Eccl. 1:13
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9 ¶ aTwo are better than one; because they
have a good breward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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9a
Moses 3:24
b
TG
Reward
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13 ¶ Better is a apoor and a wise child
than an old and foolish king, who will no more be badmonished.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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13a
3 Ne. 12:3
b
TG
Teachable;
TG
Warnings
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