Ecclesiastes 5:10–20

The Folly of Riches

10 aHe who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is 1vanity.

11 aWhen good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to 1look on?

12 The sleep of the working man is apleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the 1full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: ariches being 1hoarded by their owner to his hurt.

14 When those riches were lost through 1a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing 2to support him.

15 aAs he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will btake nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.

16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man 1is born, thus will he 2die. So awhat is the advantage to him who btoils for the wind?

17 Throughout his life ahe also eats in darkness with bgreat vexation, sickness and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen to be agood and 1fitting: to eat, to drink and 2enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few 3years of his life which God has given him; for this is his 4breward.

19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom aGod has given riches and wealth, He has also bempowered him to eat from them and to receive his 1reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the cgift of God.

20 For he will not often 1consider the 2years of his life, because aGod keeps 3him occupied with the gladness of his heart.