Ecclesiastes 4:4 - The Scriptures 1998

⁴ And I saw that all the toil and skill of the work bring envy between man and his neighbour. That too is futile and feeding on wind.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁴ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁴ Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

American Standard Version (1901)

⁴ 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.

Common English Bible

⁴ I also observed that people work hard and become good at what they do only out of mutual envy. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁴ Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 Cross References

Genesis 26:14

And he came to have possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great body of servants, and the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 31:1

And he heard the words of Laḇ

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel and displeasure overwhelming, But who is able to stand before jealousy?

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. And see, all was futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I set my heart to know wisdom – and to know madness and folly. I know that this too is feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For a man might labour with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he leaves his heritage to a man who has not laboured for it. That too is futile and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His eyes. But to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, to give to him who is good before Elohim. That too is futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There was no end of all the people; all of whom he headed. But the ones who come afterward do not rejoice in him. For that too is futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words, the more futility – what is to man the advantage?

Ecclesiastes 6:9

What the eyes see is better than what the desire goes after. That too is futile and feeding on wind.

Matthew 27:18

For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him up.

Acts 7:9

“And the ancestors, becoming jealous, sold Yosĕ

James 4:5

Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the Spirit which dwells in us intensely crave unto envy?

1 John 3:12

not as Qayin who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his works were wicked but those of his brother were righteous.