Ecclesiastes 4:4

New Living Translation

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Cross References

Genesis 26:14

He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him.

Genesis 31:1

But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.”

Proverbs 27:4

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Matthew 27:18

(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

Acts 7:9

“These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

James 4:5

Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

1 John 3:12

We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.