"The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh." — Ecclesiastes 4:5

Ecclesiastes 4:5 · KJV

“The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.”

— Ecclesiastes 4:5

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

Verse 6

Better {is} an handful {with} quietness, than both the hands full {with} travail and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4 — Context

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.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Better {is} an handful {with} quietness, than both the hands full {with} travail and vexation of spirit.

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Cross References

Proverbs 6:10-11

{Yet} a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Isaiah 9:20

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: {snatch: Heb cut}

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and {hath} nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Job 13:14

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; {therefore} shall he beg in harvest, and {have} nothing. {cold: or, winter}

Proverbs 12:27

The slothful {man} roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man {is} precious.

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but {he that is} cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Proverbs 24:33-34

{Yet} a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: