Ecclesiastes 6
International Standard Version
Enjoyment of Life as a Gift from God
6 There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: 2 a 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.
3 A man might father a hundred children,[a] and live for many years, so that the length of his life[b] is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn’t receive a proper[c] burial, I maintain that stillborn children[d] are better off than he is, 4 because stillborn children[e] arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. 5 Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything,[f] they are more content than the other. 6 Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren’t all of them going to the same place?
7 Every person works for his own self-interests,[g]
but his desires remain unsatisfied.
8 For what advantage has the wise person over the fool?
What advantage does the poor man have
in knowing how to face life?[h]
9 It 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.
10 Whatever exists has been named already;[i]
people know what it means[j] to be human—
and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.
11 Because many words lead to pointlessness,
how do people benefit from this?
12 Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through[k] like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 The Heb. lacks children
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit. years
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 The Heb. lacks proper
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit. child; and so through v. 5
- Ecclesiastes 6:4 Lit. because he
- Ecclesiastes 6:5 The Heb. lacks anything
- Ecclesiastes 6:7 Lit. for his mouth
- Ecclesiastes 6:8 Lit. knows to walk before the living
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 I.e. its destiny is known
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Lit. already; it is known
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 Or they spend
Ecclesiastes 6
Lexham English Bible
Those Who Have Wealth but Do Not Enjoy It Are Pitiful
6 Here is another misfortune that I have seen under the sun, and it is prevalent among humankind. 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; yet God does not enable him to enjoy it—instead someone else ends up enjoying it. This is vanity—indeed, it is a grievous ill!
3 Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, if his heart[a] is not satisfied with his prosperity[b] and he does not receive a proper burial,[c] I deem the stillborn better than him. 4 For he comes into vanity and departs into darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. 5 He has neither seen nor known the sun, yet he has more rest than him. 6 Even if a man[d] lives a thousand years twice, if he[e] does not enjoy prosperity,[f] both suffer the same fate![g]
One Must Learn to Be Content with What One Has
7 All of a man’s toil is for his mouth—
yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8 So do the wise really have an advantage over fools?
Can the poor really gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others?[h]
9 Better to be content with what your eyes see
than for your soul to constantly crave more.[i]
This also is vanity and chasing wind!
It is Futile for Humans to Complain about God’s Irresistible Will
10 Whatever is—it was already determined,
what will be—it has already been decided.[j]
As for man, he cannot argue
against what is more powerful than him.
11 Increasing words only multiplies futility,[k]
how does that profit anyone?
The Future is Inscrutable to Humans
12 For who knows what is good for a man in his life during the few days of his fleeting life, which are fleeting as a shadow? For who can tell anyone what will happen in the future[l] under the sun?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Or “his soul”
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Literally “the good”
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Literally “and also there is no burial for him”
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Hebrew “he”
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Hebrew “and”
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Literally “good”
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Literally “are not the all going to the same place?”
- Ecclesiastes 6:8 Literally “What is there for the poor knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?”
- Ecclesiastes 6:9 Literally “Sight of the eyes is better than wandering of desire”
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Literally “and his name is known what he is man”
- Ecclesiastes 6:11 Literally “Where there are numerous words, it makes numerous vanity”
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 Literally “after him”
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