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Ecclesiastes 4:5

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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.

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.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
KJV
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
WEB
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
ASV
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
DARBY
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
BLB
The fool is folding his hands and is eating his own flesh.
ÅB
Dåren legger hendene i fanget og tærer på sitt eget kjøtt.
OTB
Dåren sitter ledig og fører ruin over seg selv.
B1930
Dåren legger hendene i fanget og tærer på sitt eget kjøtt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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