Koheles 6

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Koheles (Book of Ecclesiastes), Chapter 6

'"`UNIQ--named-00000000-QINU`"'¹ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

'"`UNIQ--named-00000001-QINU`"'² a man to whom G-d giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet G-d giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

'"`UNIQ--named-00000002-QINU`"'³ If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul have not enough of good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he;

'"`UNIQ--named-00000003-QINU`"'⁴ for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

'"`UNIQ--named-00000004-QINU`"'⁵ moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other;

'"`UNIQ--named-00000005-QINU`"'⁶ yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and enjoy no good; do not all go to one place?

'"`UNIQ--named-00000006-QINU`"'⁷ All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

'"`UNIQ--named-00000007-QINU`"'⁸ For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?

'"`UNIQ--named-00000008-QINU`"'⁹ Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

'"`UNIQ--named-00000009-QINU`"'¹⁰ Whatsoever cometh into being, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is foreknown what man is; neither can he contend with Him that is mightier than he.

'"`UNIQ--named-0000000A-QINU`"'¹¹ Seeing there are many words that increase vanity, what is man the better?

'"`UNIQ--named-0000000B-QINU`"'¹² For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

See also

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• Koheles 6 Commentaries
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References

Portions © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant. Portions © 1998 by Larry Nelson.