Ecclesiastes 6
BSB

Ecclesiastes

The Futility of Life

1There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:+ 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.+ 3A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.+ 4For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.+ 5The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,+ 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?+ 7All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.+ 8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?+ 9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.+ 10Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.+ 11For the more words, the more futility — and how does that profit anyone?+ 12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?+
Footnotes (1)
  1. a 6:7 Hebrew filled

Berean Standard Bible

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