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Scripture · Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 6:2

Ecclesiastes 6:2 is verse 2 of Ecclesiastes chapter 6, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

World English Bible

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.

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Ecclesiastes 6:1–4 · Berean Standard Bible

1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:

2 God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

4 For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

1 Kings 3:13

Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.

1 Chronicles 29:25

The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as had not been bestowed on any king in Israel before him.

1 Chronicles 29:28

He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 1:11

God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—

Daniel 5:18

As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.

Ecclesiastes 2:4

I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

Ecclesiastes 2:5

I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

Ecclesiastes 2:6

I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

Ecclesiastes 2:7

I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,

Ecclesiastes 2:8

and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

Ecclesiastes 2:9

So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

Deuteronomy 8:7

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills;

Deuteronomy 8:8

a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey;

Deuteronomy 8:9

a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper.

Deuteronomy 8:10

When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.

Judges 18:10

When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has delivered it into your hand. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”

Job 21:9

Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

Job 21:10

Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.

Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,

Job 21:12

singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.

Job 21:13

They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

Job 21:14

Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

Job 21:15

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

Psalms 17:14

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

Psalms 73:7

From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

Luke 12:19

Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Deuteronomy 28:33

A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.

Deuteronomy 28:43

The foreigner living among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink down lower and lower.

Psalms 39:6

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Lamentations 5:2

Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

Hosea 7:9

Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

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