Ecclesiastes 6

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

1 n There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man o to whom p God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he q lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God r does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that s the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's t good things, and he also has no u burial, I say that v a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not w seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds x rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy 1 no good - do not all go to the one place?

7 y All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 2 8 For what advantage has the wise man z over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better a is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is b vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever has come to be has c already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to d dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his e vain life, which he passes like f a shadow? For who can tell man what will be g after him under the sun?

  1. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:13
    There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt.
  2. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:19
    Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil - this is the gift of God.
  3. Cross References
    1 Kings 3:13
    I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 17:14
    From men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
    Psalms 73:7
    Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
    Job 21:7 - 13
    Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
  5. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:19
    Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil - this is the gift of God.
    Luke 12:20
    But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 47:8 - 9
    And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?
  7. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:6
    Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good - do not all go to the one place?
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 14:20
    You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. "May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!
    Jeremiah 8:2
    And they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. And they shall not be gathered or buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground.
    Jeremiah 22:19
    With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
    2 Kings 9:35
    But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.
  9. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 4:3
    But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
    Job 3:16
    Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?
  10. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 7:11
    Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
    Ecclesiastes 11:7
    Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
  11. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 4:6
    Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
  12. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:26
    A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
  13. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:15
    Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
  14. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 11:9
    Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
  15. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:14
    I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  16. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:10
    Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.
    Ecclesiastes 3:15
    That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
  17. Cross References
    Job 9:32
    For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
    Isaiah 45:9
    Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'?
    1 Corinthians 10:22
    Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
  18. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 7:15
    In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
    Ecclesiastes 9:9
    Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.
  19. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 8:13
    But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
    Job 14:2
    He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
  20. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:18
    I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
    Ecclesiastes 3:22
    So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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