Ecclésiaste 6

Wealth without enjoyment

¹I have seen a misfortune under the sun that lies heavy on human beings: ²God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy it; instead a stranger enjoys it. This is a breath and a grievous sickness. ³A man may father a hundred children and live many years; but however many the days of his years, if his soul finds no satisfaction in good things, and he does not even receive a burial, I say that a child born dead is better off than he is. ⁴For it comes as a breath and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is hidden. ⁵It has never seen the sun or known anything, yet it has more rest than that man. ⁶Even if he lived a thousand years twice over but did not enjoy what is good, do not all go to the same place? ⁷All people’s hard work is for their mouths, and yet their appetite is never filled. ⁸What advantage do the wise have over fools? And what does a poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others? ⁹It is better to enjoy what is before your eyes than to let desire roam. This too is a breath and chasing the wind. ¹⁰Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what human beings are: they cannot argue their case against one stronger than they are. ¹¹The more words there are, the more breath there is; what does anyone gain from that? ¹²For who knows what is good for people during the few days of their life, a mere breath, which they pass like a shadow? And who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?