Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 6"

Ecclesiastes 6

Revised Standard Version RSV

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon men:

2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore affliction.

3 If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but he does not enjoy life's good things, and also has no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better off than he.

4 For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;

5 moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.

6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice told, yet enjoy no good--do not all go to the one place?

7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.

11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is man the better?

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

GOD'S WORD Translation GW

1 There is a tragedy that I have seen under the sun. It is a terrible one for mortals.

2 God gives one person riches, wealth, and honor so that he doesn't lack anything he wants. Yet, God doesn't give him the power to enjoy any of them. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless and is a painful tragedy.

3 Suppose a rich person wasn't satisfied with good things [while he was alive] and didn't even get an honorable burial [after he died]. Suppose he had a hundred children and lived for many years. No matter how long he would have lived, it [still] would have been better for him to have been born dead.

4 A stillborn baby arrives in a pointless birth and goes out into the darkness. The darkness then hides its name.

5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, the baby finds more rest than the rich person.

6 Even if the rich person lives two thousand years without experiencing anything good--don't we all go to the same place?

7 Everything that people work so hard for goes into their mouths, but their appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage does a wise person have over a fool? What advantage does a poor person have in knowing how to face life?

9 It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind.

10 Whatever has happened [in the past] already has a name. Mortals are already known for what they are. Mortals cannot argue with the one who is stronger than they.

11 The more words there are, the more pointless they become. What advantage do mortals gain from this?

12 Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?