Ecclesiastes 6
6
1Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, # Ec 5:13 and it weighs heavily on humanity: # Or it is common among men 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor # 1Kg 3:13 so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, # Ps 17:14; 73:7 but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. 3A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, # Lit how many years if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, # Is 14:20; Jr 8:2; 22:19 I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. # Jb 3:16; Ec 4:3 4For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. 5Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. 6And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?
7All man’s labor is for his stomach, # Lit mouth # Pr 16:26
yet the appetite is never satisfied.
8What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? # Ec 2:15 What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. # Ec 11:9 This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. # Ec 1:14
10Whatever exists was given its name long ago, # Lit name already # Gn 2:19; Ec 1:9-10; 3:15 and it is known what man is. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he. # Jb 9:32; Is 45:9 11For when there are many words, they increase futility. # Pr 10:19; Mt 6:7 What is the advantage for man? 12For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? # Ec 3:22 Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?
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Ecclesiastes 6: HCSB
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 6
6
Controlled appetite
1I saw a tragedy under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon humanity. 2God may give some people plenty of wealth, riches, and glory so that they lack nothing they desire. But God doesn’t enable them to enjoy it; instead, a stranger enjoys it. This is pointless and a sickening tragedy. 3Some people may have one hundred children and live a long life. But no matter how long they live, if they aren’t content with life’s good things, I say that even a stillborn child with no grave is better off than they are.#6.3 Correction; Heb puts the lack of burial site with those who do not enjoy life's good things. 4Because that child arrives pointlessly, then passes away in darkness. Darkness covers its name. 5It hasn’t seen the sun or experienced anything. But it has more peace than those 6who live a thousand years twice over but don’t enjoy life’s good things. Isn’t everyone heading to the same destination? 7All the hard work of humans is for the mouth, but the appetite is never full. 8What advantage do the wise have over the foolish? Or what do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living? 9It’s better to enjoy what’s at hand than to have an insatiable appetite. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.
10Whatever happens has already been designated, and human beings are fully known. They can’t contend with the one who is stronger than they are. 11Because the more words increase, the more everything is pointless. What do people gain by it? 12Because who knows what’s good for human beings during life, during their brief pointless life, which will pass away like a shadow? Who can say what the future holds for people under the sun?
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