Parallel Verses

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.

New American Standard Bible

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

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. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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.

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.

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.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
and every right
כּשׁרון 
Kishrown 
Usage: 3

מעשׂה 
Ma`aseh 
Usage: 234

אישׁ 
'iysh 
Usage: 692

is envied
קנאה 
Qin'ah 
Usage: 43

הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

and vexation
רעוּת 
R@`uwth 
Usage: 7

References

Fausets

Context Readings

People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor

3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun. 4 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. 5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.

Genesis 4:4-8

And Abel gave an offering of the young lambs of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering;

Genesis 37:2-11

These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph, a boy seventeen years old, was looking after the flock, together with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph gave their father a bad account of them.

1 Samuel 18:8-9

And Saul was very angry and this saying was unpleasing to him; and he said, They have given David credit for tens of thousands, and to me for only thousands: what more is there for him but the kingdom?

1 Samuel 18:14-16

And in all his undertakings David did wisely; and the Lord was with him.

1 Samuel 18:29-30

And Saul's fear of David became all the greater, and he went on hating him, day by day.

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?

Ecclesiastes 2:26

To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

There are words without number for increasing what is to no purpose, but what is man profited by them?

Matthew 27:18

For he saw that for envy they had given him up.

Acts 7:9

And the brothers, moved with envy against Joseph, gave him to the Egyptians for money: but God was with him,

James 4:5

Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?

1 John 3:12

Not being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain