a man (A)to whom (B)God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he (C)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God (D)does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;[a] it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that (E)the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's (F)good things, and he also has no (G)burial, I say that (H)a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:2 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on 1:2)

God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,(A) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(B)

A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn(C) child is better off than he.(D) It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

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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.

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.

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

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