Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.
New American Standard Bible
The fool
King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Holman Bible
and consumes his own flesh.
American Standard Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Amplified
The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].
Bible in Basic English
The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
Darby Translation
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Julia Smith Translation
The foolish one folded his hands together, and ate his flesh.
King James 2000
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Lexham Expanded Bible
{The fool refuses to work with his hands, so he has nothing to eat except his own skin}!
Modern King James verseion
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh.
NET Bible
The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.
New Heart English Bible
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
The Emphasized Bible
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
Webster
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
World English Bible
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
Youngs Literal Translation
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
Themes
Interlinear
Yad
References
Hastings
Word Count of 19 Translations in Ecclesiastes 4:5
Verse Info
Context Readings
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
4 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. 5 The fool crosses his arms and starves himself. 6 It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Isaiah 9:20
They cut meat on the right, but they're still hungry, and they devour also on the left, but they're not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own children.
Job 13:14
Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands?
Proverbs 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
Proverbs 11:17
A gracious man benefits himself, but the cruel person damages himself.
Proverbs 12:27
The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted, but diligence is one's most important possession.
Proverbs 13:4
The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing, but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.
Proverbs 20:4
A lazy person doesn't plow in the proper season; he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.
Proverbs 24:33-34
"A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!"