Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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
But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:21
because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Genesis 4:4-8
and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
Genesis 37:2-11
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"
1 Samuel 18:14-16
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.
1 Samuel 18:29-30
Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.
Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:16
There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:11
The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
Matthew 27:18
For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
Acts 7:9
"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
James 4:5
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
1 John 3:12
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.