Ecclesiastes 4:6

In 11 translations

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.

LSV

“Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”

YLT

'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'

DBY

Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

DRC

Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind.

GNV

Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.

JPS

Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.

LXXE

Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

ט֕וֹב מְלֹ֥א כַ֖ף נָ֑חַת מִמְּלֹ֥א חָפְנַ֛יִם עָמָ֖ל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

LXX-Br

Ἀγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πληρώματα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Proverbs 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
• Proverbs 15:16–17Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
• Psalms 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
• Proverbs 17:1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).