Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Christian Standard Bible
The Loneliness of Wealth
4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another.(A) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.[a](B)
5 The fool folds his arms(C)
and consumes his own flesh.(D)
6 Better one handful with rest
than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.(E)
Footnotes
- 4:4 Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit; also in vv. 6,16
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
English Standard Version
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is (A)vanity[a] and a striving after wind.
5 The fool (B)folds his hands and (C)eats his own flesh.
6 (D)Better is a handful of (E)quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
New International Version
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(A)
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