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Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:14
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:14
English Standard Version
6 (A)There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man (B)to whom (C)God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he (D)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God (E)does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;[a] it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that (F)the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's (G)good things, and he also has no (H)burial, I say that (I)a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not (J)seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds (K)rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy[b] no good—do not all go to the one place?
7 (L)All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.[c] 8 For what advantage has the wise man (M)over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better (N)is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is (O)vanity and a striving after wind.
10 Whatever has come to be has (P)already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to (Q)dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his (R)vain[d] life, which he passes like (S)a shadow? For who can tell man what will be (T)after him under the sun?
The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
7 (U)A good name is better than precious ointment,
and (V)the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will (W)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
(X)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (Y)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 (Z)For as the crackling of (AA)thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.[e]
7 Surely (AB)oppression drives the wise into madness,
and (AC)a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and (AD)the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 (AE)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
(AF)for anger lodges in the heart[f] of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who (AG)see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like (AH)the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that (AI)wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider (AJ)the work of God:
(AK)who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 (AL)In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, (AM)so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:2 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Or see
- Ecclesiastes 6:7 Hebrew filled
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Hebrew in the bosom
Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:14
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:14
New International Version
6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,(A) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(B)
3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn(C) child is better off than he.(D) 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?(E)
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.(F)
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?(G)
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.(H)
10 Whatever exists has already been named,(I)
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(J) they pass through like a shadow?(K) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(L)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(M)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(N) is the destiny(O) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(P)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(Q)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(R) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(S) under the pot,
so is the laughter(T) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(U) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(V) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(W) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(X)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(Y) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(Z)
and benefits those who see the sun.(AA)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(AB)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.