Ecclesiastes 6
1 aThere is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2a man bto whom cGod gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he dlacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God edoes not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; ▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on 1:2)
it is a grievous evil. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that gthe days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s hgood things, and he also has no iburial, I say that ja stillborn child is better off than he. 4For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5Moreover, it has not kseen the sun or known anything, yet it finds lrest rather than he. 6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy ▼▼Or see
no good—do not all go to the one place? 7 nAll the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. ▼▼Hebrew filled
8For what advantage has the wise man pover the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9Better qis the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is rvanity and a striving after wind. 10Whatever has come to be has salready been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to tdispute with one stronger than he. 11The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his uvain ▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
life, which he passes like wa shadow? For who can tell man what will be xafter him under the sun?
Copyright information for
ESV