Ecclesiastes 6:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Frustration of Desires
6 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind:(A) 2 those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.(B) 3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years, but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life’s good things or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.(C) 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered; 5 moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?
7 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied.(D) 8 For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?(E) 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(F)
Read full chapter
Ecclesiastes 6:1-9
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.
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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
