Ecclesiastes 6
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1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:
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.2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor--instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.
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—3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years--even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity--even if he were to live forever--I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!"
4for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,
5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man--
6even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.7All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach--yet his appetite is never 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?8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile--like chasing the 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 has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.
11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?
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 no one knows what is best for a person during his life--during the few days of his fleeting life--for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 5
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