4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— Don’t sit there watching the wind. Qohelet tells us to be careful what we promise God. Ecclesiastes 4:6 One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work - More spitting into the wind. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better. And then God doesn’t let them enjoy it. 5 The fool sits back and takes it easy,His sloth is slow suicide. Do your own work. Doesn’t everyone end up in the same place? 7 But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talkThere’s always this rock foundation: Fear God! NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible: Two Bible Versions Together for Study and Comparison, The Message, Numbered Edition, Personal Size, with Topical Concordance, NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible, Two Bible Versions Together for Study and Comparison, Bonded Leather, Black, Large Print. Just grab whatever you can while you can; don’t assume something better might turn up by and by. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 MSG Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. Can’t you see it’s only smoke? One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work— More spitting into the wind. Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness - Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. 7:1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. The form yithqepho for yithqephehu, Job 15:24, … Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. And once made, they must be kept. Enter to learn. In this sermon Dr. Thiel covers each and every verse of three chapters (4,5,6) of Ecclesiastes. Enter to learn. And once we make the promise we need to follow-through on it. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. 8-9 So what advantage has a sage over a fool, or over some poor wretch who barely gets by? 10 Whatever happens, happens. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson, The Message (MSG), Is better than two fistfuls of worried work—. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. Browse Sermons on Ecclesiastes 4:6. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. And what fun is that—to be robbed in broad daylight? Ecclesiastes brilliantly captures the toil and joy, fleeting success and unanswered questions that we all experience in our work. 11-12 The more words that are spoken, the more smoke there is in the air. More smoke. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live. And spitting into the wind. It’s more of what I’m calling smoke. Ecclesiastes 4:6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. New American Standard Bible. And who cares?” More smoke. But a rich man’s belly gives him insomnia. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Your friends and loved ones’ envy and sometimes even … I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches, and I saw everyone rally to the rule of this young successor to the king. Questioned the doctrine of retributive justice associated with wisdom theology the author zeros-in on the nature of world. Message Bible the message of Ecclesiastes whom the Preacher was directing his message dead who are dead! If we’re going to make these vows, they should be thoughtfully made. There’s always this rock foundation: Fear God! Finding Work Life Balance. It sees nothing and knows nothing, but is better off by far than anyone living. Wisdom Of The Teacher For College Students, Ch. All for a miserable life spent in the dark? More smoke. The message of Ecclesiastes is a message that is much needed today. 11 The more loot you get, the more looters show up.And what fun is that—to be robbed in broad daylight? We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend in Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany. And then loses it all in a bad business deal. A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. 4 1-3 Next I turned my attention to all the outrageous violence that takes place on this planet—the tears of the victims, no one to comfort them; the iron grip of oppressors, no one to rescue the victims from them. And spitting into the wind? Some stranger comes along and has all the fun. I’d say that a stillborn baby gets the better deal. 3-5 Say a couple have scores of children and live a long, long life but never enjoy themselves—even though they end up with a big funeral! Then verses 4-6 deal with our vows or promises made to God. And spitting into the wind. 4-5 When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now.God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. That’s the human lot. That’s far better than mindlessly offering. Browse Sermons on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6. When the clouds are full of water, it rains. What a waste! 13-17 Here’s a piece of bad luck I’ve seen happen:A man hoards far more wealth than is good for himAnd then loses it all in a bad business deal.He fathered a child but hasn’t a cent left to give him.He arrived naked from the womb of his mother;He’ll leave in the same condition—with nothing.This is bad luck, for sure—naked he came, naked he went.So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke?All for a miserable life spent in the dark? 8-9 Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. 4 Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. (4-6) Success often gains the envy of one’s neighbor. Ecclesiastes 4:6 - MSG - One handful of peaceful repose Is better than... Study verse in the The Message a. The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 2 Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead instead of the living who are still alive. Read verse in The Message Bible Don’t stare at the clouds. Find Top Church Sermons, Illustrations, and Preaching Slides on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6. Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NAS) One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. 18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. 1. That message tells us that our endless pursuit of money, wealth, and fame, even if we have good intentions, amounts to nothing if it is done apart from a relationship with God. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament "And if one shall violently assail him who is alone, two shall withstand him; and (finally) a threefold cord is not quickly broken asunder." 12 Hard and honest work earns a good night’s sleep,Whether supper is beans or steak.But a rich man’s belly gives him insomnia. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead instead of the living who are still alive. 9-10 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.Share the work, share the wealth.And if one falls down, the other helps,But if there’s no one to help, tough! 6 Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you.When called to account, you won’t get by with    “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.”Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation? Ecclesiastes 4:6 The Message Bible << Ecclesiastes 3 | Ecclesiastes 4 | Ecclesiastes 5 >> 6 One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work - More spitting into the wind. Read verse in New American Standard Bible And people feel it. 6 1-2 I looked long and hard at what goes on around here, and let me tell you, things are bad. Smoke. Vow it, then do it.Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. But luckier than the dead or the living is the person who has never even been, who has never seen the bad business that takes place on this earth. Get on with your life. Ecclesiastes 4:6The Message (MSG) 6 One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work— More spitting into the wind. It’s God’s gift! He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He’ll leave in the same condition—with nothing. Ecclesiastes 5 Message Ecclesiastes 9:4-6-4-6 MSG Still, anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” The living at least know something, even if it’s only that they’re going to die. That’s far better than mindlessly offering        a sacrifice,    Doing more harm than good. Living A Life Of Simplicity. A bad business. Ecclesiastes 11:4. Chapter Parallel. Ecclesiastes 4-6: Christian Living Makes a Difference This is the second part of a multi-part series going through the Book of Ecclesiastes. 13-16 A poor child with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn’t know which end is up. 5 Watch your step when you enter God’s house. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the k Ecclesiastes 4:6 (MSG) One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work - More spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6 in all English translations, NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible: Two Bible Versions Together for Study and Comparison, The Message Large-Print Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, teal, The Message Gift and Award Bible, Imitation Leather, Burgundy, The Message // REMIX 2.0, Soft Imitation Leather, Color Spectrum, The Message Bible--soft leather-look, sky blue. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. 4 1-3 Next I turned my attention to all the outrageous violence that takes place on this planet—the tears of the victims, no one to comfort them; the iron grip of oppressors, no one to rescue the victims from them. Ecclesiastes 11:3-4-6 MSG. Ecclesiastes 4:12. And who knows what’s best for us as we live out our meager smoke-and-shadow lives? And that’s about it. Its destiny is fixed.You can’t argue with fate. He fathered a child but hasn’t a cent left to give him. Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation? 12 By yourself you’re unprotected.With a friend you can face the worst.Can you round up a third?A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. Bible Gateway Plus puts a library of commentaries and Greek & Hebrew language tools right in your pocket. When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls. 6 One handful of peaceful reposeIs better than two fistfuls of worried work—More spitting into the wind. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness - Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. 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