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A man may father a hundred children and live for many years, but no matter how many his days may be, if he does not have the opportunity to enjoy the good things of life and in the end receives no burial, I maintain that a stillborn child is more fortunate than he.[a]

For that child came in vain and departed in darkness, and in darkness will his name be enveloped. Moreover, it has never seen the sun or known anything, yet its state is better than his.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Many children, a long life, and a proper burial were what constituted true riches. To be without any of these was a disgrace.

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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