Chapter 6
The Impossible Profit.[a] 1 There is another evil that I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on the human race. 2 God may grant a man wealth, prosperity, and honor so that he lacks none of the things he desires. However, if God does not enable him to enjoy these gifts but rather allows someone else to revel in their benefits, this is vanity and a grievous ill.
3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years, but no matter how many his days may be, if he does not have the opportunity to enjoy the good things of life and in the end receives no burial, I maintain that a stillborn child is more fortunate than he.[b]
4 For that child came in vain and departed in darkness, and in darkness will his name be enveloped. 5 Moreover, it has never seen the sun or known anything, yet its state is better than his. 6 It could live a thousand years twice over and experience no enjoyment, yet both will go to the same place.[c]
7 All man’s toil is for the mouth,
yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8 For what advantage does the wise man have
over the fool,
or what advantage do the poor have
in knowing how to conduct themselves in life?
9 What the eye sees is better
than what desire craves.
This also is vanity
and a chase after the wind.
What a Human Being Is: Conclusion to Part I
10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago,
and the nature of man is known,
as well as the fact that he cannot contend
with one who is stronger than he.[d]
11 The more words we speak,
the more our vanity increases,
so what advantage do we gain?
12 For who knows what is good for a man while he lives the few days of his vain life, through which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen here afterward under the sun?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:1 The desire to possess does away with any chance of really living, for no one is certain of hanging on to his goods, as is illustrated by three portraits. Not even sages possess security.
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 Many children, a long life, and a proper burial were what constituted true riches. To be without any of these was a disgrace.
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 Same place: i.e., the grave. Qoheleth is still speaking about what humans can observe; they see both the good and the evil die, but they do not see what happens to each of them (see v. 12; 3:21).
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 One who is stronger than he: i.e., God.