Ecclesiastes 6:1-9
Christian Standard Bible
6 Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun,(A) and it weighs heavily on humanity:[a] 2 God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor(B) so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself,(C) but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. 3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives,[b] if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial,(D) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.(E) 4 For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. 5 Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. 6 And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?
8 What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool?(G) What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9 Better what the eyes see than wandering desire.(H) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.[d](I)
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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)
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