Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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 Yea, better is he than both, who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 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. 5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and like grasping the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not labored in it shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Genesis 4:4-8
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Genesis 37:2-11
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
1 Samuel 18:14-16
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
1 Samuel 18:29-30
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but which is able to stand before jealousy?
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping up, only that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping of the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:16
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after him shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and grasping after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:11
Since there are many things that increase vanity, how is man the better?
Matthew 27:18
For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
James 4:5
Do you think that the scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?
1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.