NETtext - Ecclesiastes - 6

6:1  Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

6:2  God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor - instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

6:3  Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years - even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity - even if he were to live forever - I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!"

6:4  Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,

6:5  though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man -

6:6  if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

6:7  All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach - yet his appetite is never satisfied!

6:8  So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

6:9  It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile - like chasing the wind.

6:10  Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

6:11  The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

6:12  For no one knows what is best for a person during his life - during the few days of his fleeting life - for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.