Parallel Verses
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 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.
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 the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. 4 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. 5 The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile -- like chasing the wind!
Ecclesiastes 2:21
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!
Genesis 4:4-8
But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock -- even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
Genesis 37:2-11
This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, his seventeen-year-old son, was taking care of the flocks with his brothers. Now he was a youngster working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.
1 Samuel 18:8-9
This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, "They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?"
1 Samuel 18:14-16
Now David achieved success in all he did, for the Lord was with him.
1 Samuel 18:29-30
Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.
Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!
Ecclesiastes 4:16
There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:11
The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?
Matthew 27:18
(For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)
Acts 7:9
The patriarchs, because they were jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him,
James 4:5
Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, "The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning"?
1 John 3:12
not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother's were righteous.