Oppression and Rivalry

Ecclesiastes 4 moves from cosmological hevel to social hevel. Qoheleth considers the oppressed and their tears, with no one to comfort them; the power on the side of their oppressors, with no one to comfort the oppressed. He congratulates the dead more than the living; better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Then envy: he has seen that for all toil and all skill in work it comes from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is hevel and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Then the solitary toiler: there is one alone, without a second; he has neither son nor brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches. For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure? This also is hevel and an unhappy business.

The chapter closes with a short wisdom poem on the value of companionship — two are better than one; a threefold cord is not quickly broken — and a reflection on the mutability of power. A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king. Even so, those who come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is hevel and a striving after wind.