4Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.


In Context

1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;

3 yea, better than them both did I esteem him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The New International Version of the Holy Bible

4:4And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

4:4Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

4:4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

4:4And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

4:4Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

4:4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

4:4And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.