Ecclesiastes 6
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New American Standard Bible 1995Berean Study Bible
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men--1There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:
2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.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.
3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,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 it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.4For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.5The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,
6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?"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 and yet the appetite is not satisfied.7All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?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?
9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?11For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?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?
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgThe Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.
Ecclesiastes 5
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