Ecclesiastes 4:8 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

⁸ the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁸ There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁸ Here is one alone–no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business. [Prov. 27:20; I John 2:16.]

American Standard Version (1901)

⁸ There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Common English Bible

⁸ There are people who are utterly alone, with no companions, not even a child or a sibling. Yet they work hard without end, never satisfied with their wealth. So for whom am I working so hard and depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is pointless and a terrible obsession.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁸ He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: "For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?" In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

⁸ There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 Cross References

Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”

Psalm 39:6

Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up and do not know who will gather.

Psalm 39:7

“And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

Proverbs 27:20

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and human eyes are never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to humans to be busy with.

Ecclesiastes 1:8

All things are wearisome, more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing or the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 4:7

Again, I saw vanity under the sun:

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The lover of money will not be satisfied with money, nor the lover of wealth with gain. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:9

But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.

Isaiah 5:8

Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is room for no one, and you are left to live alone in the midst of the land!

Isaiah 55:2

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your earnings for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

1 John 2:16

for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.