Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Ecclesiastes 4:3-6
New American Standard Bible

Chapter 4

3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind. 5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
King James Version

Chapter 4

3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Again, 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.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Christian Standard Bible

Chapter 4

3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
New Living Translation

Chapter 4

3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.
4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless — like chasing the wind.
5'Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.'
6And yet, 'Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.'
English Standard Version

Chapter 4

3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4Then 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.
5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
New International Version

Chapter 4

3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. 6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
New King James Version

Chapter 4

3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is a ministry of