Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:18

New International Version

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: ²God 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,^(A) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.^(B)

³A 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^(C) child is better off than he.^(D) ⁴It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— ⁶even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?^(E)

⁷Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
    yet their appetite is never satisfied.^(F)
⁸What advantage have the wise over fools?^(G)
What do the poor gain
    by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
⁹Better what the eye sees
    than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind.^(H)

¹⁰Whatever exists has already been named,^(I)
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.
¹¹The more the words,
    the less the meaning,
    and how does that profit anyone?

¹²For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days^(J) they pass through like a shadow?^(K) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Wisdom

7 A good name is better than fine perfume,^(L)
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.^(M)
²It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death^(N) is the destiny^(O) of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.
³Frustration is better than laughter,^(P)
    because a sad face is good for the heart.
⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.^(Q)
⁵It is better to heed the rebuke^(R) of a wise person
    than to listen to the song of fools.
⁶Like the crackling of thorns^(S) under the pot,
    so is the laughter^(T) of fools.
    This too is meaningless.

⁷Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe^(U) corrupts the heart.

⁸The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience^(V) is better than pride.
⁹Do not be quickly provoked^(W) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.^(X)

¹⁰Do not say, “Why were the old days^(Y) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.

¹¹Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing^(Z)
    and benefits those who see the sun.^(AA)
¹²Wisdom is a shelter
    as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
    Wisdom preserves those who have it.

¹³Consider what God has done:^(AB)

Who can straighten
    what he has made crooked?^(AC)
¹⁴When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.^(AD)
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

¹⁵In this meaningless life^(AE) of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.^(AF)
¹⁶Do not be overrighteous,
    neither be overwise—
    why destroy yourself?
¹⁷Do not be overwicked,
    and do not be a fool—
    why die before your time?^(AG)
¹⁸It is good to grasp the one
    and not let go of the other.
    Whoever fears God^(AH) will avoid all extremes.^[a]