Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
right--rather, "prosperous" (see on Ecc 2:21). Prosperity, which men so much covet, is the very source of provoking oppression (Ecc 4:1) and "envy," so far is it from constituting the chief good.
Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, Ecc 2:11. I. If a man be acute, and dexterous, and successful in his business, he gets the ill-will of his neighbours, Ecc 4:4.
Commenting on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Ecc 4:4 “And I saw all the labour and all the skill of business, that it is an envious surpassing of the one by the other: also this is vain and windy effort.” The היא refers to this exertion of vigorous effort and skill. The Graec. Venet., by rendering here and at Ecc 2:24 כּשׁרון, by καθαρότης, betrays himself as a Jew. With כּי, quod, that which forms the pred.