Ecclesiastes 4:8

Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version

I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, “Why am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy my life?” This is also a very bad and senseless thing.

Cross References

1 John 2:16

This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world.

Proverbs 27:20

Just as the place of death and destruction is never full, people always want more and more.

Luke 12:20

“But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’

Ecclesiastes 1:8

Words cannot fully explain things, but people continue speaking. Words come again and again to our ears, but our ears don’t become full. And our eyes don’t become full of what we see.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

I decided to study and to use my wisdom to learn about everything that is done in this life. I learned that it is a very hard thing that God has given us to do.

Isaiah 5:8

Look at you people! You join houses to houses and fields to fields until there is no room for anyone else. But when the punishment comes, you will be forced to live alone. You will be the only people in the whole land.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Those who love money will never be satisfied with the money they have. Those who love wealth will not be satisfied when they get more and more. This is also senseless.

Psalm 39:6

Our life is like an image in a mirror. We rush through life collecting things, but we don’t know who will get them after we die.

Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said, “I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him.”

Isaiah 55:2

Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

Throughout their life, they have pain, frustrations, and hard work. Even at night, a person’s mind does not rest. This is also senseless.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

People can work hard using all their wisdom and knowledge and skill. But they will die and other people will get the things they worked for. They did not do the work, but they will get everything. That makes me very sad. It is also not fair and is senseless.

Ecclesiastes 4:7

Again I saw something else that didn’t make sense:

Psalm 39:7

So, Lord, what hope do I have? You are my hope!

Ecclesiastes 5:9

Even the king is a slave—his country owns him.