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Ecclesiastes 4:6

ContentmentWorkRest and sabbath

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.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

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

Compare

BSB
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
KJV
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
WEB
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
ASV
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
DARBY
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
BLB
Better the fullness of palm [with] quietness than the fullness of two palms [with] toil and a striving after the wind.
ÅB
Bedre er en håndfull ro enn begge never fulle av strev og jag etter vind.
OTB
Bedre er en håndfull med ro enn to håndfuller med slit og jag etter vinden.
B1930
Bedre er en håndfull ro enn begge never fulle av strev og jag efter vind.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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