Home Master Index
←Prev   Ecclesiates 6 as rendered by/in  Next→ 



6:1  There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings:
6:2  a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires—but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.
6:3  A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is,
6:4  because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness.
6:5  Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other.
6:6  Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren't all of them going to the same place?
6:7  Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied.
6:8  For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?
6:9  It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.
6:10  Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human— and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.
6:11  Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this?
6:12  Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?