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Ecclesiastes 6:2

Money and wealthContentmentDiscouragement and depression

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

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.

3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

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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

    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.

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  • Psalms 17:14

    From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

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  • Psalms 73:7

    Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

    Read in context

  • Lamentations 5:2

    Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 3:13

    And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

    Read in context

  • Job 21:9–15

    Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

    Read in context

  • Luke 12:19–20

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

    Read in context