Ecclesiastes 5:15

15 And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

Ecclesiastes 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return
to go as he came
This may be understood either of the covetous rich man, or of his son; and that supposing what is before said should not be the case of either of them, but they should possess their substance as long as they live; yet, when they come to die, they will be stripped of them all; of their gold and silver, their plate and jewels, and rich household furniture; of their cattle and possessions, farms and estates, which are no longer theirs; and even of their very clothes, and be as naked as they were when they came into the world; and which is indeed the case of every man, ( Job 1:21 ) ; and is used as an argument, and a very forcible one, against covetousness; and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his
hand;
nothing of his substance, which he has got by his labour, and hoarded up with great care; not the least portion of it can he carry away with him when he dies; not any of his jewels, nor bags of gold and silver; and if any of these should be put into his grave, which has been sometimes done at the interment of great personages, these are of no manner of use and service to him, either to comfort and refresh his body, or to save his soul from hell, and procure it an entrance into the heavenly glory; see ( 1 Timothy 6:7 ) ( Proverbs 11:4 ) . The Targum allegorizes this in a very orthodox way, not very usual, in favour of original sin, and against the doctrine of merit;

``as he goes out of his mother's womb naked, without a covering, and without any good; so he shall return to go to the house of his grave, indigent of merit, as he came into this world; and no good reward shall he receive by his labour, to take with him into the world to which he goes, that it may be for merit in his hand.''

Ecclesiastes 5:15 In-Context

13 And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

14 As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go in his hand.

15 And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

16 Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

17 Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.