Chapter 6

Limited Worth of Enjoyment. ¹ There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon humankind: ^2 (A)There is one to whom God gives riches and property and honor, and who lacks nothing the heart could desire; yet God does not grant the power to partake of them, but a stranger devours them. This is vanity and a dire plague. ³ Should one have a hundred children and live many years, no matter to what great age, still if one has not the full benefit of those goods, I proclaim that the child born dead, even if left unburied, is more fortunate.^{[a] 4 (B)}Though it came in vain and goes into darkness and its name is enveloped in darkness, ⁵ though it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet the dead child has more peace. ⁶ Should such a one live twice a thousand years and not enjoy those goods, do not both go to the same place?^[b]

⁷ All human toil is for the mouth,^[c] yet the appetite is never satisfied. ⁸ What profit have the wise compared to fools, or what profit have the lowly in knowing how to conduct themselves in life? ⁹ “What the eyes see is better than what the desires wander after.”^[d] This also is vanity and a chase after wind.

II. Qoheleth’s Conclusions

¹⁰ Whatever is, was long ago given its name, and human nature is known; mortals cannot contend in judgment with One who is stronger.^{[e] 11} For the more words, the more vanity; what profit is there for anyone? ^12 (C)For who knows what is good for mortals in life, the limited days of their vain life, spent like a shadow? Because who can tell them what will come afterward under the sun?^(D)