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Ecclesiastes 5:11

Money and wealthContentment

9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?
KJV
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
WEB
When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
ASV
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?
DARBY
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes?
BLB
In the multiplying of good those devouring it are multiplied; and what profit [is] for its owners, but the beholding with his eyes?
ÅB
Jo mere gods dess flere til å fortære det; og hva gagn har dets eier av det, annet enn at han får se det?
OTB
Når eiendeler øker, øker også de som forbruker dem. Hvilken fordel har da eierne annet enn å se på dem?
B1930
Jo mere gods dess flere til å fortære det; og hvad gagn har dets eier av det, annet enn at han får se det?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

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  • Habakkuk 2:13

    Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

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  • Psalms 119:36–37

    Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

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  • Proverbs 23:5

    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

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  • Ecclesiastes 6:9

    Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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  • Genesis 13:5–7

    And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

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  • Joshua 7:21–25

    When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

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  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

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