Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

International Standard Version

Enjoyment of Life as a Gift from God

6 There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: ² a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart’s desires—but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.

³ A man might father a hundred children,^[a] and live for many years, so that the length of his life^[b] is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn’t receive a proper^[c] burial, I maintain that stillborn children^[d] are better off than he is, ⁴ because stillborn children^[e] arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. ⁵ Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything,^[f] they are more content than the other. ⁶ Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren’t all of them going to the same place?