Ecclesiastes 4:5

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Ecclesiastes 4:3–7 · Berean Standard Bible

3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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

6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Proverbs 6:10

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

Proverbs 6:11

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Proverbs 12:27

A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.

Proverbs 13:4

The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

Proverbs 20:4

The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

Proverbs 24:33

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

Proverbs 24:34

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Job 13:14

Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

Proverbs 11:17

A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

Isaiah 9:20

They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.