Ecclesiastes 4:5 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

English ASV

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

English Amplified

The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh [destroying himself by indolence].

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh [destroying himself by indolence].

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

Foolish people refuse to work. They sit and they do nothing. So they become hungry and they die.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Some people say, "It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don't work, you will starve to death."

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

They say that we would be fools to fold our hands and let ourselves starve to death.

English God's Word - GW 1995

A fool folds his hands and wastes away.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

The fool folds his hands in embrace and consumes his own flesh.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

The fool folds his hands for slothfulness, and eats his flesh for lack of food.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

"The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh"--

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

A foolish person folds his hands and doesn't work. And that destroys him.

English NIV

The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.

English NKJ 1982

The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.

English NLT

Foolish people refuse to work and almost starve.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

The fool won't work and almost starves but feels that it is better to be lazy and

English Tyndale 1537

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

Ecclesiastes 4:5 — Compare Translations