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Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Contemporary English Version

4 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.[a]

5 Fools will fold their hands
    and starve to death.
6 Yet a very little food
    eaten in peace
is better than twice as much
earned from overwork
    and chasing the wind.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 4.4 chasing the wind: See the note at 1.14.
  2. 4.6 chasing the wind: See the note at 1.14.
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Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
New International Version

4 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.(A)

5 Fools fold their hands(B)
    and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil(C)
    and chasing after the wind.

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Ecclesiastes 3
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