Logos Bible Study

Ecclesiastes 6:1–2

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nThere is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2a man oto whom pGod gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he qlacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God rdoes not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;1 it is a grievous evil.

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Footnotes

  1. 1The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on )

Cross references

  1. nch. 5:13
  2. och. 5:19
  3. p[1 Kgs. 3:13]
  4. qPs. 17:14; 73:7; See Job 21:7–13
  5. r[ch. 5:19; Luke 12:20]

In other versions

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 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, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy.

NLTNew Living Translation

There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Here is another misfortune that I have seen under the sun, and it is prevalent among humankind. God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; yet God does not enable him to enjoy it—instead someone else ends up enjoying it. This is vanity—indeed, it is a grievous ill!

KJV 1900King James Version

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.