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.

The fool (B)folds his hands and (C)eats his own flesh.

(D)Better is a handful of (E)quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

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Footnotes

  1. 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)

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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