Ecclesiastes 4:5–6

5 Fools fold their hands

and ruin themselves.

6 Better one handful with tranquillity

than two handfuls with toil

and chasing after the wind.

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

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

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

5 “Fools fold their idle hands,

leading them to ruin.”

6 And yet,

“Better to have one handful with quietness

than two handfuls with hard work

and chasing the wind.”

5 The fool folds his hands

And consumes his own flesh.

6 Better a handful with quietness

Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

5 Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing,

because you will starve to death.

6 Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content

with what little you have.

Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more,

and that is like chasing the wind.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

5 A fool folds his hands and wastes away. 6 One handful of peace and quiet is better than two handfuls of hard work and of trying to catch the wind. 

5 The fool folds his arms

and consumes his own flesh.

6 Better one handful with rest

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

5 Fools fold their hands

and consume their own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quiet

than two handfuls with toil

and a chasing after wind.

5 The fool refuses to work with his hands,

so he has nothing to eat except his own skin!

6 Better is one handful with peace

than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.

5 A foolish person folds his hands and doesn’t work.

And that destroys him.

6 One handful with peace and quiet

is better than two handfuls with hard work.

Working too hard is like chasing the wind.