Get the free app for more features and content.
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:2a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.4For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.5Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

7All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.8For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.11The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?12For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ©2001 Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version, ESV, and the ESV logo are registered trademarks of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Click here to review ESV Full Copyright Notice and Permissions Information.

Featured Resources

The Disturbing But Surprising Wisdom of Ecclesiastes [Animated Explainer]

The Disturbing But Surprising Wisdom of Ecclesi...

In Ecclesiastes, we hear the skeptical voice of “the teacher.” He observes th...

BibleProject

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Dr. Rob Johnston introduces Ecclesiastes as a book of paradoxes, holding two ...

Fuller Studio

Ecclesiastes: The Bible Explained

Ecclesiastes: The Bible Explained

Watch our Introduction video on the book of Ecclesiastes, which outlines the ...

Spoken Gospel

Ecclesiastes Speaks Today, Part One

Ecclesiastes Speaks Today, Part One

By: Alistair Begg at Basics Pastor Conference 2014 - http://www.truthforlife....

Truth For Life

Book of Ecclesiastes Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Book of Ecclesiastes Summary: A Complete Animat...

Watch our overview video on the book of Ecclesiastes, which breaks down the l...

BibleProject

The Books of Solomon

The Books of Solomon

The wisest king of Israel, King Solomon, is associated with three books of th...

BibleProject

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Over...

Watch our overview video on the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible...

BibleProject

Explore Ecclesiastes 6