If a man beget an hundred children and live many years, and the days of his years be multiplied: and his soul be not [a]satisfied with good things, and he be not [b]buried, I say that an untimely fruit is better than he.

For [c]he cometh into vanity, and goeth into darkness: and his name shall be covered with darkness.

Also he hath not seen the sun, nor known it: therefore this hath more rest than the other.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:3 If he can never have enough.
  2. Ecclesiastes 6:3 As we see oftentimes that the covetous man either falleth into crimes that deserve death, or is murdered or drowned or hangeth himself, or such like, and so lacketh the honor of burial, which is the last office of humanity.
  3. Ecclesiastes 6:4 Meaning, the untimely fruit whose life did neither profit or hurt any.

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(A) child is better off than he.(B) It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—

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