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Ecclesiastes 6:2

Money and wealthContentmentDiscouragement and depression

1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:

God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

4 For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.

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

Compare

BSB
God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.
KJV
A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
WEB
a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
ASV
a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
DARBY
one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil.
BLB
A man [for] whom God has given to him riches and wealth and honor, and he has no lack for his soul from all that; he desires and God does not give him power to eat from it; instead a foreign man eats it. This [is] vapor, and it [is] a sickening evil.
ÅB
Når Gud gir en mann rikdom og skatter og ære, så han for sin del ikke fattes noe som han attrår, men Gud ikke setter ham i stand til å nyte godt av det, men en fremmed mann får nyte det, så er det tomhet og en ond lidelse.
OTB
Gud gir mennesker rikdom, velstand og ære, slik at de ikke mangler noe deres hjerte ønsker, men Gud gir dem ikke evnen til å nyte dem, og i stedet nyter en fremmed dem. Dette er tomhet og en alvorlig ulykke.
B1930
Når Gud gir en mann rikdom og skatter og ære, så han for sin del ikke fattes noget som han attrår, men Gud ikke setter ham i stand til å nyte godt av det, men en fremmed mann får nyte det, så er det tomhet og en ond lidelse.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 5:19

    Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

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  • Psalms 17:14

    from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

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  • Psalms 73:7

    From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

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  • Lamentations 5:2

    Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

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  • 1 Kings 3:13

    Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.

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  • Job 21:9–15

    Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

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  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

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  • Luke 12:19–20

    Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

    Read in context