Ecclesiastes Chapter 6
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
2
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
3
For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
4
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
5
Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king
6
himself is served by the field.
7
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
8
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding
9
of them with his eyes?
10
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
11
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun,
12
namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men:
2
one to whomGod giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yetGod giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil.
3
If a man beget a hundred [sons], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he.
4
For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;
5
moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.
6
Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, 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 advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9
Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
10
That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.
11
For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?
12
For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man:
2
a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.
3
If a man beget a hundred [children], and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet [if] his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he.
4
For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.
5
Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is [no more rest] to this one than another.
6
Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7
All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.
8
For [what] advantage has the wise man over the fool, since [even] the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?
9
The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.
10
If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.
11
For there are many things which increase vanity.
12
What advantage has a man? for who knows [what is] good for a man in his life, [during] the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Est et aliud malum, quod vidi sub sole, et quidem frequens apud homines:
2
Vir, cui dedit Deus divitias, et substantiam, et honorem, et nihil deest animæ suæ ex omnibus, quæ desiderat: nec tribuit ei potestatem Deus ut comedat ex eo, sed homo extraneus vorabit illud. hoc vanitas, et miseria magna est.
3
Si genuerit quispiam centum liberos, et vixerit multos annos, et plures dies ætatis habuerit, et anima illius non utatur bonis substantiæ suæ, sepulturaque careat: de hoc ergo pronuncio quod melior illo sit abortivus.
4
Frustra enim venit, et pergit ad tenebras, et oblivione delebitur nomen eius.
5
Non vidit solem, neque cognovit distantiam boni et mali:
6
etiam si duobus millibus annis vixerit, et non fuerit perfruitus bonis: nonne ad unum locum properant omnia?
7
Omnis labor hominis in ore eius: sed anima eius non implebitur.
8
Quid habet amplius sapiens a stulto? et quid pauper nisi ut pergat illuc, ubi est vita?
9
Melius est videre quod cupias, quam desiderare quod nescias. sed et hoc vanitas est, et præsumptio spiritus.
10
Qui futurus est, iam vocatum est nomen eius: et scitur quod homo sit, et non possit contra fortiorem se in iudicio contendere.
11
Verba sunt plurima, multamque in disputando habentia vanitatem.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
2
a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3
If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he;
4
for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5
Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
6
Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?
7
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
10
Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
11
For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
12
For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it <FI>is<Fi> great on man:
2
A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this <FI>is<Fi> vanity, and it <FI>is<Fi> an evil disease.
3
If a man doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, `Better than he <FI>is<Fi> the untimely birth.'
4
For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,
5
Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.
6
And though he had lived a thousand years twice over, yet good he hath not seen; to the same place doth not every one go?
7
All the labour of man <FI>is<Fi> for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.
8
For what advantage <FI>is<Fi> to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?
9
Better <FI>is<Fi> the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also <FI>is<Fi> vanity and vexation of spirit.
10
What <FI>is<Fi> that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it <FI>is<Fi> man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.
11
For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage <FI>is<Fi> to man?
12
For who knoweth what <FI>is<Fi> good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).