Ecclesiastes 4:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 4 The vanity of oppression, by reason of which the dead and the unborn are better than the living, Ecclesiastes 4:1-3. Of envy, sloth, quarrel, Ecclesiastes 4:4-6. Of covetousness and selfishness, Ecclesiastes 4:7,8. The advantage of society and friendship, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. The poor better than foolish kings, Ecclesiastes 4:13. He is advanced, whilst one born king is made poor, Ecclesiastes 4:14. The people never contented, but rejoicing in changes, Ecclesiastes 4:15,16. I considered again more seriously all the oppressions that are done under the sun, whether by supreme magistrates or judges, of which he spake Ecclesiastes 3:16, or by any other potent persons. They had no comforter; none afforded them either pity or succour, either out of a selfish and barbarous disposition, or for fear of exposing themselves thereby to the same injuries. There was power, both in themselves, and because most men were ready to join with the strongest and safest side. So they were utterly unable to deliver themselves, and, as it follows, none else could or would do it. They had no comforter; which is repeated as an argument both of the great inhumanity of men towards others in calamity, and of the extreme misery of oppressed persons.