Ecclesiastes 4:4

New International Reader's Version

I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Cross References

Genesis 26:14

He had many flocks and herds and servants. Isaac had so much that the Philistines became jealous of him.

Genesis 31:1

Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying. “Jacob has taken everything our father owned,” they said. “He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”

Proverbs 27:4

Anger is mean, and great anger overpowers you. But who can face jealousy?

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I’ve seen what is done on this earth. All of it is meaningless. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

Then I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. And I wanted to know what foolish pleasure is all about. But I found out that it’s also like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

A person might use wisdom, knowledge and skill to do their work. But then they have to leave everything they own to someone who hasn’t worked for it. That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it isn’t fair.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the person who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words people use, the less meaning there is. And that doesn’t help anyone.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Being satisfied with what you have is better than always wanting more. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Matthew 27:18

Pilate knew that the leaders wanted to get their own way. He knew this was why they had handed Jesus over to him.

Acts 7:9

“Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother Joseph. So they sold him as a slave. He was taken to Egypt. But God was with him.

James 4:5

Don’t you know what Scripture says? God wants the spirit in us to belong only to him. God caused this spirit to live in us. Don’t you think Scripture has a reason for saying this?

1 John 3:12

Don’t be like Cain. He belonged to the evil one. He murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because the things Cain had done were wrong. But the things his brother had done were right.