Ecclesiastes 6:4
2 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.
For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
5 The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,
6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
- KJV
- For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
- WEB
- for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
- ASV
- for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
- DARBY
- For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;
- BLB
- For in vapor he comes, and in darkness he goes, and in darkness his name is covered.
- ÅB
- For som et intet kom det til verden, og i mørke går det bort, og med mørke blir dets navn skjult,
- OTB
- For det kommer i fåfengthet og går bort i mørke, og dets navn er innhyllet i mørke.
- B1930
- For som et intet kom det til verden, og i mørke går det bort, og med mørke blir dets navn skjult,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 109:13
May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.
Read in context