The Vanity of Selfish Toil

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

(A)The fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.
(B)Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

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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)

Fools fold their hands(B)
    and ruin themselves.
Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil(C)
    and chasing after the wind.

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