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Chapter 6

The Impossible Profit.[a] There is another evil that I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on the human race. God may grant a man wealth, prosperity, and honor so that he lacks none of the things he desires. However, if God does not enable him to enjoy these gifts but rather allows someone else to revel in their benefits, this is vanity and a grievous ill.

A man may father a hundred children and live for many years, but no matter how many his days may be, if he does not have the opportunity to enjoy the good things of life and in the end receives no burial, I maintain that a stillborn child is more fortunate than he.[b]

For that child came in vain and departed in darkness, and in darkness will his name be enveloped. Moreover, it has never seen the sun or known anything, yet its state is better than his. It could live a thousand years twice over and experience no enjoyment, yet both will go to the same place.[c]

All man’s toil is for the mouth,
    yet his appetite is never satisfied.
For what advantage does the wise man have
    over the fool,
or what advantage do the poor have
    in knowing how to conduct themselves in life?
What the eye sees is better
    than what desire craves.
This also is vanity
    and a chase after the wind.

What a Human Being Is: Conclusion to Part I

10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago,
    and the nature of man is known,
as well as the fact that he cannot contend
    with one who is stronger than he.[d]
11 The more words we speak,
    the more our vanity increases,
    so what advantage do we gain?

12 For who knows what is good for a man while he lives the few days of his vain life, through which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen here afterward under the sun?

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:1 The desire to possess does away with any chance of really living, for no one is certain of hanging on to his goods, as is illustrated by three portraits. Not even sages possess security.
  2. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Many children, a long life, and a proper burial were what constituted true riches. To be without any of these was a disgrace.
  3. Ecclesiastes 6:6 Same place: i.e., the grave. Qoheleth is still speaking about what humans can observe; they see both the good and the evil die, but they do not see what happens to each of them (see v. 12; 3:21).
  4. Ecclesiastes 6:10 One who is stronger than he: i.e., God.

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 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. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?(E)

Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
    yet their appetite is never satisfied.(F)
What advantage have the wise over fools?(G)
What do the poor gain
    by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
Better what the eye sees
    than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind.(H)

10 Whatever exists has already been named,(I)
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
    the less the meaning,
    and how does that profit anyone?

12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(J) they pass through like a shadow?(K) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?