Ecclesiastes
6
- I have seen another evil under the sun,
and it weighs heavily on men:
- God gives a man wealth, possessions and
honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable
him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless,
a grievous evil.
- 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 child is better
off than he.
- 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 --
- even if he lives a thousand years twice
over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place ?
- All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet
his appetite is never satisfied.
- What advantage has a wise man over a fool?
What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others
?
- Better what the eye sees than the roving
of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Whatever exists has already been named,
and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger
than he.
- The more the words, the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone ?
- For who knows what is good for a man in
life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow?
Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone ?
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