Parallel Verses
Youngs Literal Translation
And 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.
New American Standard Bible
I have seen that every labor and every
King James Version
Again, 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.
Holman Bible
I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend.
International Standard Version
Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.
American Standard Version
Then 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.
Amplified
I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.
Bible in Basic English
And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
Darby Translation
And 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.
Julia Smith Translation
And I saw all the labor and all the success of the work, for this the jealousy of a man from his neighbor. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit.
King James 2000
Again, I considered all toil, and every skillful work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and grasping after the wind.
Lexham Expanded Bible
I also realized that all [of the] toil and all [of] the skillful work that is done--it [is] envy between one man and {another}. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind!
Modern King James verseion
Again, 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.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind.
NET Bible
Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless -- like chasing the wind.
New Heart English Bible
Then 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 Emphasized Bible
Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, - even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Webster
Again, 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.
World English Bible
Then 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.
Topics
Interlinear
Ra'ah
`amal
Rea`
Word Count of 19 Translations in Ecclesiastes 4:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
3 And better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun. 4 And 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. 5 The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit!
Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this is vanity and a great evil.
Genesis 4:4-8
and Abel, he hath brought, he also, from the female firstlings of his flock, even from their fat ones; and Jehovah looketh unto Abel and unto his present,
Genesis 37:2-11
These are births of Jacob: Joseph, a son of seventeen years, hath been enjoying himself with his brethren among the flock, (and he is a youth,) with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and Joseph bringeth in an account of their evil unto their father.
1 Samuel 18:8-9
And it is displeasing to Saul exceedingly, and this thing is evil in his eyes, and he saith, 'They have given to David myriads, and to me they have given the thousands, and more to him is only the kingdom;'
1 Samuel 18:14-16
And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah is with him,
1 Samuel 18:29-30
and Saul addeth to be afraid of the presence of David yet; and Saul is an enemy with David all the days.
Proverbs 27:4
Fury is fierce, and anger is overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to a man who is good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 4:16
there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 6:11
For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage is to man?
Matthew 27:18
for he had known that because of envy they had delivered him up.
Acts 7:9
and the patriarchs, having been moved with jealousy, sold Joseph to Egypt, and God was with him,
James 4:5
Do ye think that emptily the Writing saith, 'To envy earnestly desireth the spirit that did dwell in us,'
1 John 3:12
not as Cain -- of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.