God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor(A) so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself,(B) but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives,[a] if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial,(C) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.(D) For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit how many years

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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