15 (A)As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will (B)take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person [a]is born, so will he [b]die. (C)What then is the advantage for him who (D)labors for the wind? 17 All his life (E)he also eats in darkness with (F)great irritation, sickness, and anger.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit comes
  2. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit go

15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.(A)
They take nothing from their toil(B)
    that they can carry in their hands.(C)

16 This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?(D)
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

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