"Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also va…" — Ecclesiastes 4:4

Ecclesiastes 4:4 · KJV

“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. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}”

— Ecclesiastes 4:4

Verse 3

Yea, better {is he} than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Verse 5

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

Ecclesiastes 4 — Context

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

Yea, better {is he} than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

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

Better {is} an handful {with} quietness, than both the hands full {with} travail and vexation of spirit.

Cross References

1 John 3:12

Not as Cain, {who} was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a man whose labour {is} in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it {for} his portion. This also {is} vanity and a great evil. {leave: Heb. give}

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For {God} giveth to a man that {is} good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to {him that is} good before God. This also {is} vanity and vexation of spirit. {in his...: Heb. before him}

1 Samuel 18:14-16

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD {was} with him. {behaved...: or, prospered}

1 Samuel 18:29-30

And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath {is} cruel, and anger {is} outrageous; but who {is} able to stand before envy? {Wrath...: Heb. Wrath is cruelty, and anger an overflowing} {envy: or, jealousy?}

Matthew 27:18

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.