Ecclesiastes 4:4

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Cross References

Genesis 26:14

He had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 31:1

Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s; he has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Matthew 27:18

For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

Acts 7:9

“The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him

James 4:5

Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the spirit that God caused to dwell in us desire envy?

1 John 3:12

We must not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.