NET Bible
"Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind."
— Ecclesiastes 4:4, NET Bible
“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.”
“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. ”
“Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Evil Oppression on Earth So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.
So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.
But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.
The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.
Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.
Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth: