Ecclesiastes 4:6-8
Complete Jewish Bible
6 Better an armload with tranquillity
than both arms full of effort and feeding on wind.
7 Then I turned my attention to something else under the sun that is pointless: 8 the situation in which a solitary individual without a companion, with neither son nor brother, keeps on working endlessly but never has enough wealth. “For whom” [he should ask], “am I working so hard and denying myself pleasure?” This too is truly pointless, a sorry business.
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Ecclesiastes 4:6-8
New King James Version
6 (A)Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
8 There is one alone, without [a]companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his (B)eye satisfied with riches.
But (C)he never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of (D)good?”
This also is vanity and a [b]grave misfortune.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit. a second
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit. evil task
Ecclesiastes 4:6-8
English Standard Version
6 (A)Better is a handful of (B)quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 (C)Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his (D)eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, (E)“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy (F)business.
Read full chapterCopyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
