Ecclesiastes 4:4

Bible in Basic English 1965

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.

Cross References

Genesis 26:14

For he had great wealth of flocks and herds and great numbers of servants; so that the Philistines were full of envy.

Genesis 31:1

Now it came to the ears of Jacob that Laban's sons were saying, Jacob has taken away all our father's property, and in this way he has got all this wealth.

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

There are words without number for increasing what is to no purpose, but what is man profited by them?

Ecclesiastes 6:9

What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

Matthew 27:18

For he saw that for envy they had given him up.

Acts 7:9

And the brothers, moved with envy against Joseph, gave him to the Egyptians for money: but God was with him,

James 4:5

Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?

1 John 3:12

Not being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good.