Ecclesiastes 4 · Verse 6

Ecclesiastes 4:6

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

Ecclesiastes 4:6, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 4:6 in other translations

BSB	Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
WEB	Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
ASV	Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
YLT	‘Better is a handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.'
DARBY	Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
BBE	One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Webster	Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.

What does Ecclesiastes 4:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. Hebrew; "One open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands full of travail." "Quietness" (mental tranquillity flowing from honest labor), opposed to "eating one's own flesh" (Ec 4:5), also opposed to anxious labor to gain (Ec 4:8; Pr 15:16, 17; 16:8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 Better is a handful with quietness - These may be the words of the slothful man, and spoken in vindication of his idleness; as if he had said, "Every man who labors and amasses property is the object of envy, and is marked by the oppressor as a subject for spoil; better, therefore, to act as I do; gain little, and have little, and enjoy my handful with quietness." Or the words may contain Solomon's reflection on the subject.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. They often become great and prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more satisfaction in sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that is its own punishment. Let us by honest industry lay…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 →

Ecclesiastes 4:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ט֕וֹבTov[is] goodH2896

מְלֹ֥אme.Lo'fullness ofH4393

כַ֖ףkhafhand ofH3709

נָ֑חַתNa.chatquietnessH5183

מִמְּלֹ֥אmi.me.Lo'more than [the] fullness ofH4393

חָפְנַ֛יִםcha.fe.Na.yimtwo handsH2651

עָמָ֖ל'a.MaltoilH5999

וּרְע֥וּתu.re.'Utand striving ofH7469

רֽוּחַ\׃Ru.achwindH7307

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 4:6

Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs 15:16-17
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Psalms 37:16
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16,17; 16:8; 17:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 4:7
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas vale el un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con trabajo y aflicción de espíritu.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mieux vaut le creux de la main rempli, et le repos, que les deux mains pleines, avec le travail et la poursuite du vent.
German Elberfelder 1871	Besser eine Hand voll Ruhe, als beide Fäuste voll Mühe und Haschen nach Wind.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Melior est pugillus cum requie, quam plena utraque manus cum labore et afflictione animi.