Ecclesiastes 4:6 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. Better (is) an handful (with) quietness, than both the hands full (with) travail. Hebrew, 'one open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands (fists) full of (what seems wealth, but which is really) travail.' "Quietness" (tranquillity flowing from moderate labour) is the happy mean between ruinous indolence on the one hand (Ecclesiastes 4:5), and laborious acquisition of wealth, and with it envy, on the other (Ecclesiastes 4:4; Proverbs 15:16-17; Proverbs 16:8).