There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
The covetous man is a slave to his own appetite, laboring night and day with no one to feed but himself, yet his eye is never satisfied with riches. He has enough for his back and belly and calling, but not for his eyes; he counts his money and will not spend it, bereaving himself of all comfort in what he grasps.
AI summary
Commenting on Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
There is one alone, and there is not a second,.... According to Aben Ezra, either no friend or companion, or no servant, or no wife, which last sense he prefers; no friend or companion he chooses, because friendship and fellowship lead to expenses; and no servant who would be chargeable to him; and no wife, which would be more expensive, and bring on a family...
not a second--no partner. child--"son or brother," put for any heir (Deu 25:5-10). eye-- (Ecc 1:8). The miser would not be able to give an account of his infatuation.