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Ecclesiastes 6
American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 6
American Standard Version
6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men: 2 a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he: 4 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness; 5 moreover it hath not seen the sun [a]nor known it; [b]this hath rest rather than the other: 6 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place? 7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [c]or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 10 [d]Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what [e]man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11 Seeing there are many [f]things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, [g]all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:5 Or, neither had any knowledge
- Ecclesiastes 6:5 Or, it is better with this than with the other
- Ecclesiastes 6:8 Or, or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Or, Whatsoever he be, his name was given him long ago, and it is known that he is man
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Hebrew Adam. See Gen. 2:7.
- Ecclesiastes 6:11 Or, words
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 Hebrew the number of the days.
Ecclesiastes 6
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6
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?
American Standard Version (ASV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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