Ecclesiastes 6
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NET BibleNew American Standard Bible 1995
1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people: 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men--
2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor--instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune. 2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.
3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years--even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity--even if he were to live forever--I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!" 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,
4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.
5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man--5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.
6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die! 6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?"
7All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach--yet his appetite is never satisfied! 7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive? 8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?
9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile--like chasing the wind. 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.
10Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is. 10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.
11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?
12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life--during the few days of his fleeting life--for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth. 12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
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Ecclesiastes 5
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