Ecclesiastes 6 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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?

7 All of a person’s labor is for his stomach,[c](F)
yet the appetite is never satisfied.

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)

10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago,[e](J) and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he.(K) 11 For when there are many words, they increase futility.(L) What is the advantage for mankind? 12 For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow?(M) Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Or it is common among men
  2. 6:3 Lit how many years
  3. 6:7 Lit mouth
  4. 6:9 Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit
  5. 6:10 Lit name already

Cross references

  1. 6:1 : Ec 5:13
  2. 6:2 : 1Kg 3:13
  3. 6:2 : Ps 17:14; 73:7
  4. 6:3 : Is 14:20; Jr 8:2; 22:19
  5. 6:3 : Jb 3:16; Ec 4:3
  6. 6:7 : Pr 16:26
  7. 6:8 : Ec 2:15
  8. 6:9 : Ec 11:9
  9. 6:9 : Ec 1:14
  10. 6:10 : Gn 2:19; Ec 1:9–10; 3:15
  11. 6:10 : Jb 9:32; Is 45:9
  12. 6:11 : Pr 10:19; Mt 6:7
  13. 6:12 : Ec 3:22

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6 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] great on man: 2 A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 Also another evil there is (There is also another evil), which I saw under the sun; and certainly it is oft used with men. 2 A man is, to whom God gave riches, and chattel, and honour; and nothing faileth to his soul of all things which he desireth; and God giveth not power to him, that he eat the...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: 2 a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 ...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

6 Teacher: I have seen another injustice under the sun, one that is a real burden upon humanity. 2 Sometimes God gives money, possessions, and even honor, so that we have everything a person might desire; nothing is lacking. But then, for reasons God only knows, God does not allow him to enjoy the ...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Futility of Living Without God6 There is a misery that I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon humanity. 2 God gives a man riches, wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to eat from it—instead a foreigner will eat it. This is fruitless...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Frustration of Desires6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon men: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is van...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Frustration of Desires6 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: 2 those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honour, 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...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Frustration of Desires6 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...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

6 There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. 2 God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up en...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

6 There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men: 2 God gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad....
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Wealth Is Not the Goal of Life6 There(A) is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, (B)so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; (C)yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner con...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honour, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New International Version (NIV)

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 grievou...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

6 I’ve seen another evil thing on this earth. And it’s a heavy load on human beings. 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor. They have everything their hearts desire. But God doesn’t let them enjoy those things. Instead, strangers enjoy them. This doesn’t have any meaning. It’s a ver...
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Ecclesiastes 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Not Everyone Enjoys Life6 Here is[a] another misfortune[b] that I have seen on earth,[c]and it weighs heavily[d] on people:[e]2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealthso that he lacks nothing that his heart[f] desires,[g]yet God does not enable[h] him to enjoy[i] the fruit of his labor[j]—inste...
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