Ecclesiastes 4:1 “Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under…”

Ecclesiastes 4:1

Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

American Standard Version

Then I returned and saw 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.

Geneva Bible 1599

So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.

Darby Translation

And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

Young's Literal Translation

And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.

Bible in Basic English

And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

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Cross references

“I returned”

Job 6:29 Malachi 3:18

Job 6:29 · BSB

Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

Malachi 3:18 · BSB

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

“and considered”

Ecclesiastes 3:16 Ecclesiastes 5:8 Isaiah 5:7 Isaiah 51:23 Isaiah 59:13–15 Malachi 3:5

Ecclesiastes 3:16 · BSB

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 · BSB

If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.

Isaiah 5:7 · BSB

For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.

Isaiah 51:23 · BSB

I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”

Isaiah 59:13–15 · BSB

rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.

Malachi 3:5 · BSB

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their…

“the tears”

Psalm 42:3 Psalm 42:9 James 5:4 Psalm 80:5 Malachi 2:13 Psalm 102:8

Psalm 42:3 · BSB

My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Psalm 42:9 · BSB

I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

James 5:4 · BSB

Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Psalm 80:5 · BSB

You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears.

Malachi 2:13 · BSB

And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.

Psalm 102:8 · BSB

All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.

“they had”

Lamentations 1:2 Lamentations 1:9 Matthew 26:56 Job 16:4 Psalm 69:20 Psalm 142:4

Lamentations 1:2 · BSB

She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

Lamentations 1:9 · BSB

Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

Matthew 26:56 · BSB

But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Job 16:4 · BSB

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

Psalm 69:20 · BSB

Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

Psalm 142:4 · BSB

Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

Also

Psalm 12:5 Job 35:9

Psalm 12:5 · BSB

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Job 35:9 · BSB

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

Read Ecclesiastes 4