He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
Ecclesiastes 4:4 - English Standard Version 2016 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it. American Standard Version (1901) Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Common English Bible I also observed that people work hard and become good at what they do only out of mutual envy. This too is pointless, just wind chasing. Catholic Public Domain Version Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care. |
He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.”
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.