Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? ¹² Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

¹³ _c There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, ¹⁴ and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. ¹⁵ _d As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what _e gain is there to him who _f toils for the wind? ¹⁷ Moreover, all his days he _g eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

¹⁸ Behold, what I have seen to be _h good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment ₁ in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his _i lot. ¹⁹ Everyone also to whom _j God has given _k wealth and possessions _l and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil - this is _m the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

1. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 6:1
   There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:
   
2. Cross References
   Job 1:21
   And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
   
3. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 1:3
   What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
   
4. Cross References
   Proverbs 11:29
   Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
   
5. Cross References
   Psalms 127:2
   It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
   
6. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 2:24
   There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.
   
7. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 2:10
   And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
   
8. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 6:2
   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 grievous evil.
   Ecclesiastes 2:24
   There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.
   
9. Cross References
   2 Chronicles 1:11
   God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king.
   
10. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:2
    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 grievous evil.
    
11. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:13
    Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man.
    

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.