Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(A)
5 Fools fold their hands
and consume their own flesh.(B)
6 Better is a handful with quiet
than two handfuls with toil
and a chasing after wind.(C)
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)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
