Does excellence cause envy?

Ecclesiastes 4:4 is one of those interesting verses that is rendered very differently in different translations. Look at the difference between ESV and NKJV:

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his eighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; ESV)

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; NKJV)

In the first sense of the verse, envy of one’s neighbor is the cause of one’s toil and skill. In the second sense of the verse, one’s skill and toil causes the neighbor to envy. Which translation is better? Which is right? Certainly toil and skill may spring from envy and it may also create envy. This is one of those verses where the 1611 KJV seems to make more sense:

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.

In any case, this difference in meaning seems important in the light of Philippians 4:8 and Romans 14:13:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8; ESV)

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Romans 14:13; ESV)

Do we cause our brothers to stumble through our devotion to skillful toil and excellence?