Ecclesiastes 4:8
Good News Translation
Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too--and a miserable way to live.

New Revised Standard Version
the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Contemporary English Version
For example, some people don't have friends or family. But they are never satisfied with what they own, and they never stop working to get more. They should ask themselves, "Why am I always working to have more? Who will get what I leave behind?" What a senseless and miserable life!

New American Bible
those all alone with no companion, with neither child nor sibling—with no end to all their toil, and no satisfaction from riches. For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things? This also is vanity and a bad business.

Douay-Rheims Bible
There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

one

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: . . .

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself.

Isaiah 56:3-5 And let not the son of the stranger, that adhereth to the Lord, speak, saying: The Lord will divide and separate me from his people. And let not the eunuch say: Behold I am a dry tree. . . .

he hath

Genesis 15:2,3 And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go without children: and the son of the steward of my house is this Damascus Eliezer. . . .

no

Isaiah 5:8 Woe to you that join house to house and lay field to field, even to the end of the place: shall you alone dwell in the midst of the earth?

is his

Ecclesiastes 1:8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity.

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied.

Habakkuk 2:5,9 And as wine deceiveth him that drinketh it: so shall the proud man be, and he shall not be honoured: who hath enlarged his desire like hell: and is himself like death, and he is never satisfied: but will gather together unto him all nations, and heap together unto him all people. . . .

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but is of the world.

for

Psalm 39:6 Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.

Isaiah 44:19,20 They do not consider in their mind, nor know, nor have the thought to say: I have burnt part of it in the fire, and I have baked bread upon the coals thereof: I have broiled flesh and have eaten, and of the residue thereof shall I make an idol? shall I fall down before the stock of a tree? . . .

Luke 12:20 But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee. And whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

it is

Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity?

Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.

Context
The Evil of Oppression
7Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: 8There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.9It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:…
Cross References
Proverbs 27:20
Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 1:8
All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.

Ecclesiastes 2:21
For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 4:7
Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:

Ecclesiastes 4:9
It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:

Ecclesiastes 5:10
A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity.

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Alphabetical: a all alone am and asked brother business certain content dependent depriving end enjoyment eyes For grievous had having he his I Indeed is it labor laboring man meaningless miserable myself neither never no nor not of pleasure riches satisfied son task There This to toil toiling too vanity was wealth were whom why with without yet

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:8 There is one who is alone (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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