⁴Again, I considered all travail, and ^†every right work, that ^†for this a man ⁱis envied of his neighbour. This is also ^jvanity and vexation of spirit. ⁵The fool ^kfoldeth his hands together, and ^leateth his own flesh. ⁶^mBetter is an handful with ⁿquietness, than both the hands full with travail and ^jvexation of spirit.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

†Heb. all the h rightness of work.
†Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour.
iComp. Prov. 13:8.
jSee ch. 1:14.
kSo Prov. 6:10. & 24:33.
lSee Isai. 9:20.
mSee Prov. 15:16.
n Prov. 29:9. ch. 6:5. & 9:17 in the Heb.
jSee ch. 1:14.

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Fools fold their hands

and ruin themselves.

Better one handful with tranquillity

than two handfuls with toil

and chasing after the wind.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

The fool folds his arms

and consumes his own flesh.

Better one handful with rest

than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

“Fools fold their idle hands,

leading them to ruin.”

And yet,

“Better to have one handful with quietness

than two handfuls with hard work

and chasing the wind.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and another. This also is vanity and chasing wind!

The fool refuses to work with his hands,

so he has nothing to eat except his own skin!

Better is one handful with peace

than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.