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Ecclesiastes 4:4

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.

KJV

Rursum contemplatus sum omnes labores hominum, et industrias animadverti patere invidiæ proximi ; et in hoc ergo vanitas et cura superflua est.

Vulgate

Καὶ ἴδον ἐγὼ σύμπαντα τὸν μόχθον καὶ σύμπασαν ἀνδρείαν τοῦ ποιήματος, ὅτι τὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

LXX

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.

ASV

וְ/רָאִ֨יתִֽי אֲנִ֜י אֶת כָּל עָמָ֗ל וְ/אֵת֙ כָּל כִּשְׁר֣וֹן הַֽ/מַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֛י הִ֥יא קִנְאַת אִ֖ישׁ מֵ/רֵעֵ֑/הוּ גַּם זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּ/רְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

17 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֲנִ֥י
'ny
pronoun · 862×
אִ֣ישׁ
'ysh
noun · 2171×
אֶת
't
pronoun · 10895×
גַּם
gm
adverb · 764×
ה֖וּא
hv'
pronoun · 1878×
הָֽבֶל
hbl
noun · 73×
הוּ
hv
noun · 186×
וֹ
v
noun · 55×
זֶּֽה
zh
pronoun · 1173×
י
y
noun · 43×
יַּ֣רְא
yr'
verb · 1312×
כִשְׁר֑וֹן
kshrvn
noun · 3×
כִּֽי
ky
pronoun · 4439×
כָּל
kl
noun · 5376×
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
m'shh
noun · 234×
ר֣וּחַ
rvch
noun · 377×
רְע֥וּת
r'vt
noun · 7×

Historic Christian voices

4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Cross-references

  • 1John 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.
  • 1Sam 17:28 — And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in th
  • 1Sam 18:14 — And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
  • 1Sam 18:29 — And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
  • 1Sam 18:29 — And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
  • Acts 5:17 — Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
  • Dan 6:4 — Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or
  • Eccl 1:2 — Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
  • Eccl 1:13 — And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
  • Eccl 1:14 — I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 1:14 — I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 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.
  • Eccl 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 a
  • Eccl 5:10 — He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
  • Eccl 6:9 — Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 9:11 — I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skil
  • Exod 1:9 — And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
  • Gen 26:14 — For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
  • Gen 30:1 — And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
  • Gen 31:1 — And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
  • Jer 2:13 — For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
  • John 12:4 — Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,