The Vanity of Selfish Toil
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his aeye satisfied with riches.
But bhe never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of cgood?”
This also is vanity and a1 grave misfortune.
The Value of a Friend
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
| << Ecclesiastes 4:5 | Ecclesiastes 4:7 >> |
American Standard Version
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
Amplified® Bible
Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full with painful effort, a vain striving after the wind {and} a feeding on it.
Contemporary English Version
Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
Darby English Version
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
Good News Bible
Maybe so, but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.
King James Version
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
New American Standard Bible
One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
New International Version
Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.
New King James Version
Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
One hand full of rest seems better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
Revised Standard Version
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
Young's Literal Translation
`Better `is' a handful `with' quietness, than two handfuls `with' labour and vexation of spirit.'
New English Translation
Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil1 and chasing the wind.
| << Ecclesiastes 4:5 | Ecclesiastes 4:7 >> |