Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 4:4
American Standard Version
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.
Amplified® Bible
Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind {and} a feeding on it.
Contemporary English Version
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
Darby English Version
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.
Good News Bible
I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.
King James Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is {the result of} rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
New International Version
And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
New King James Version
Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I have seen that every labor and every skill which takes place results from rivalry between a man and his neighbor This too appears like vanity and striving after wind.
Revised 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.
Young's Literal Translation
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.
