Some People Are Not Enabled by God to Enjoy the Fruits of Their Labor
6:1 There is1
another misfortune2
that I have seen on earth,3
and it weighs heavily upon men:4
6:2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth
so that he lacks nothing that his heart5
desires;6
Yet God does not enable7
him to enjoy8
the fruit of his labor—
but someone else9
enjoys10
it! 11
This is fruitless and a grievous misfortune.12
6:3 Even if a man begets a hundred children and lives many years—
no matter how long he lives,13
but he cannot enjoy his prosperity—
Even if he were to live forever,14
I would say, "A stillborn child15
is better off than him!"16
6:4 Though the stillborn came into the world for
no reason17
and departed into darkness,
though its name is shrouded in darkness,18
6:5 though it has never saw the light of day19
nor knew what life is like,
yet it has more rest20
than that man—
6:6 If he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his
prosperity.
For both of them die!21
6:7 All of man’s labors are for nothing more
than to fill his stomach22—
yet his appetite23
is never satisfied!
6:8 So the wise man has no advantage over a fool;24
and a pauper who knows how to behave before other people25
has no advantage over a fool.26
6:9 It is better to be content with what the eyes
can see27
than for one’s heart to always crave more.28
This continually longing is futile, it is like chasing after the wind.
Human Wisdom is Limited due to Man’s Ignorance of God’s Immutable
Foreordained Plan
6:10 Whatever has happened has been foreordained already,
and what will happen to man29
was also foreknown.
It is useless for a person to argue with God about his fate
because God30
is more powerful than him.
6:11 The more man argues with words, the less he
accomplishes.31
How does that benefit him?32
6:12 For no one knows what is best for a man during
his life33—
during the few days of his fleeting life,
for34
they pass away35
like a shadow.
Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.36