Ecclesiastes 4:4-5 in English

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

⁴ Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, and I concluded that this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, like chasing the wind.

⁵ Foolish people refuse to work; they sit idly, with their hands folded, and do not work. So they ruin themselves.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

⁴ I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.

⁵ Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.

⁴ Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

⁵ The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.

⁴ Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ Again, I beheld all the toil, and all the energy in doing, that it is from the envy of one man of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ And I saw all labor, And all the diligent work, That this is a man’s envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together, And eats his own flesh.

⁴ And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁴ 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.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

⁴ Again I beheld all the travails of men, and busynesses; and I perceived that those be open to the envy of the neighbour; and therefore in this is vanity, and superfluous busyness.

⁵ A fool foldeth together his hands, and eateth his flesh,

⁴ Again I beheld all the travails of men, and busynesses; and I perceived that those be open to the envy of the neighbour; and therefore in this is vanity, (or and so this is emptiness and futility), and superfluous busyness.

⁵ A fool foldeth together his hands, and eateth his flesh, (or and eateth his meat),

⁴ And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁵ The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh: