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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.

A man might father a hundred children,[a] and live for many years, so that the length of his life[b] is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn’t receive a proper[c] burial, I maintain that stillborn children[d] are better off than he is, because stillborn children[e] arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:3 The Heb. lacks children
  2. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit. years
  3. Ecclesiastes 6:3 The Heb. lacks proper
  4. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit. child; and so through v. 5
  5. Ecclesiastes 6:4 Lit. because he

God 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,(A) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(B)

A 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(C) child is better off than he.(D) It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

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