Ecclesiastes 6
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New King James VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men--
2A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil 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.
3If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he—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,
4for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.
5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,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—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one 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?"
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?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?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.
10Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier 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.
11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?
12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?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?
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org
Ecclesiastes 5
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