Bible in Basic English
"And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind."
— Ecclesiastes 4:4, Bible in Basic English
“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.”
And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.
So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.
And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.