Ecclesiastes 6
6
Wealth Does Not Bring Happiness
1I have seen another thing in this life that is not fair and is very hard to understand. 2God gives some people great wealth, riches, and honor. They have everything they need and everything they could ever want. But then God does not let them enjoy those things. Some stranger comes and takes everything. This is a very bad and senseless thing.
3A man might live a long time and have 100 children. But if he is not satisfied with those good things, and if no one remembers him after his death, I say that a baby who dies at birth is better off than that man. 4It is senseless when a baby is born dead. The baby is quickly buried in a dark grave, without even a name. 5The baby never saw the sun and never knew anything. But the baby finds more rest than the man who never enjoyed what God gave him. 6He might live 2000 years. But if he does not enjoy life, then the baby who was born dead has found the easiest way to the same end.#6:6 then the baby … the same end Or “Isn’t it true that all go to the same place?”
7People work and work to feed themselves, but they are never satisfied. 8In the same way a wise person is no better than a fool is. It is better to be a poor person who knows how to accept life as it is. 9It is better to be happy with what you have than to always want more and more. Always wanting more and more is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind.#6:9 Or “Having what you can see is better than chasing after the things you want. This is also like trying to catch the wind.”
10-11You are only what you were created to be—a human, and it is useless to argue about it. People cannot argue with God about this because he is more powerful than they are, and a long argument will not change that fact.
12Who knows what is best for people during their short life on earth? Their life passes like a shadow. No one can tell them what will happen later.
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 6: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Ecclesiastes 6
6
1I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2God 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, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3A 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 child is better off than he. 4It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does 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?
7Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.
8What advantage have the wise over fools?
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.
10Whatever exists has already been named,
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.