15 (A)As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will (B)take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man [a]is born, thus will he [b]die. So (C)what is the advantage to him who (D)toils for the wind? 17 Throughout his life (E)he also eats in darkness with (F)great vexation, sickness and anger.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit comes
  2. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit go

15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.(A)
They take nothing from their toil(B)
    that they can carry in their hands.(C)

16 This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?(D)
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

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