Ecclesiastes 4:5
Good News Translation
They say that we would be fools to fold our hands and let ourselves starve to death.

New Revised Standard Version
Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh.

Contemporary English Version
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death.

New American Bible
“Fools fold their arms and consume their own flesh”—

Douay-Rheims Bible
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

fool

Proverbs 6:10,11 And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. . . .

Proverbs 12:27 The deceitful man shall not find gain: but the substance of a just man shall be precious gold.

Proverbs 13:4 The sluggard willeth, and willeth not: but the soul of them that work, shall be made fat.

Proverbs 20:4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.

Proverbs 24:33,34 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest. . . .

eateth that is with envy

Job 13:14 Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

Proverbs 11:17 The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.

Isaiah 9:20 And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shall eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they together shall be against Juda.

Context
The Evil of Oppression
4Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care. 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:6Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.…
Cross References
Proverbs 6:10
And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee.

Proverbs 24:33
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest.

Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.

Isaiah 9:20
And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shall eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they together shall be against Juda.

Ecclesiastes 4:4
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