Ecclesiastes 6

Name: Ecclesiastes
Author: BiblePics
ISBN: Your ISBN Number

Evil Contentment Desires Death Work Life Understanding

The author reflects on the unfulfilled longing of man, stating that wealth cannot bring happiness, and that a man without children is better off than a man with many children but no enjoyment of life.

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Bible version

The Unfulfilled Longing of Man

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

2 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.

3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Commentary

In Ecclesiastes 6, the Preacher continues to explore the vanity of life. He begins by noting that there is a great evil that he has seen under the sun: “that a man has no more reward for his labor than the animals” (v. 3). This is a reminder that, in the end, all of our efforts are ultimately futile. We are all subject to the same fate, regardless of our accomplishments. The Preacher then goes on to discuss the vanity of wealth. He notes that it is possible for a person to have great wealth, yet still lack satisfaction. He also points out that it is possible for a person to have little, yet still be content. This is a reminder that wealth is not the key to happiness. The Preacher then turns his attention to the vanity of life itself. He notes that life is short and that death is certain. He also notes that life is full of toil and sorrow. This is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of it while we can. Finally, the Preacher concludes by noting that it is better to be content with what we have than to strive for more. This is a reminder that contentment is the key to true happiness. In Ecclesiastes 6, the Preacher reminds us that life is fleeting and that our efforts are ultimately futile. He also reminds us that wealth is not the key to happiness and that contentment is the key to true joy.