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Ecclesiastes 5:16

WorkDeath and lossDiscouragement and depression

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

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

Compare

BSB
This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?
KJV
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
WEB
This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?
ASV
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
DARBY
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind?
BLB
And this also [is] a sickening evil: Exactly as, he came, so shall he go, and what profit [is] for him who has toiled for the wind?
ÅB
Også dette er et stort onde: Aldeles som han kom, skal han gå bort; hva vinning har han da av at han gjør seg strev bort i været?
OTB
Også dette er en alvorlig ondskap: akkurat som man kommer, slik skal de dra bort. Hva er da gevinsten for dem som strever for vinden?
B1930
Også dette er et stort onde: Aldeles som han kom, skal han gå bort; hvad vinning har han da av at han gjør sig møie bort i været?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 11:29

    He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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  • Ecclesiastes 1:3

    What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

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  • Mark 8:36

    For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

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  • Ecclesiastes 5:13

    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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  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

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  • Hosea 8:7

    For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

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  • Jeremiah 2:8

    The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

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  • Ecclesiastes 2:22–23

    For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

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