Parallel Verses
Modern King James verseion
Better is a hand filled with rest than two fists with travail and vexation of spirit.
New American Standard Bible
One hand full of rest is
King James Version
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Holman Bible
than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
International Standard Version
It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.
American Standard Version
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
Amplified
One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.
Bible in Basic English
One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Darby Translation
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
Julia Smith Translation
Good a hand filled with rest, above two hands full of labor and striving of spirit.
King James 2000
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with toil and grasping for the wind.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Better [is] one handful with peace than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
"One handful," sayeth he, "is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail."
NET Bible
Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.
New Heart English Bible
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
The Emphasized Bible
Better a handful - with quietness, - than both hands, full - with toil, and feeding on wind.
Webster
Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.
World English Bible
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Youngs Literal Translation
Better is a handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.'
Topics
Interlinear
Towb
M@lo'
References
Fausets
Word Count of 19 Translations in Ecclesiastes 4:6
Verse Info
Context Readings
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. 6 Better is a hand filled with rest than two fists with travail and vexation of spirit. 7 And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Cross References
Proverbs 15:16-17
Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah than great treasure and tumult with it.
Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great gain without right.
Psalm 37:16
A little to the righteous is better than the riches of many wicked.
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry piece of bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with fighting.