NET Bible
"Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:"
— Ecclesiastes 4:7, NET Bible
“Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.”
“Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. ”
“Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.”
“Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:”
“Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.”
“Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.”
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:
A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.
For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.