Books of Poetry, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets Bible Reading Plan
June 3
Ecclesiastes 6
Chapter 6
The Futility of Life
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among
men—
2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul
lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat
from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.
3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they
be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have
a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he,
4 for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in
obscurity.
5 “It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off
than he.
6 “Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy
good things—do not all go to one place?”
7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8 For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does
the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?
9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility
and a striving after wind.
10 Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for
he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.
11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage
to a man?
12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years
of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man
what will be after him under the sun?
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
