Ecclesiastes 5:17

Grief Exhaustion Anger

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.

¹⁶ 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?

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.

¹⁹ Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

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

Compare

BSB: Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
KJV: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
WEB: All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
ASV: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
DARBY: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much vexation, and sickness, and irritation.
BLB: Even all his days he will eat in darkness, and having sorrow abounding, and sickness and anger.

ÅB: Dessuten spiser han alle sine dager sitt brød i mørket, og mye gremmelse har han og sykdom og vrede.
OTB: Alle deres dager spiser de i mørke, med stor frustrasjon, sykdom og sinne.
B1930: Dessuten eter han alle sine dager sitt brød i mørket, og megen gremmelse har han og sykdom og vrede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 24:24–25
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
Read in context
Proverbs 1:27–29
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Read in context
Job 21:25
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 11:30–32
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Read in context
2 Kings 5:27
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Read in context
Acts 12:23
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 16:10–12
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
Read in context