Ecclesiastes 6
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International Standard VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men--
2a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires—but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.
3A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is, 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,
4because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.
5Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. 5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.
6Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren't all of them going to the same place?6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?"
7Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied.7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life? 8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?
9It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.
10Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human— and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.
11Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this?11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?
12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
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Ecclesiastes 5
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