Ecclesiastes 5:14-18 in English

¹⁴ and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

¹⁴ As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand.

¹⁵ And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

¹⁶ Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

¹⁷ Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

¹⁸ Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

¹⁴ But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

¹⁸ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

¹⁴ But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

¹⁸ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

¹⁴ As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labor, that it should go with him in his hand.

¹⁵ And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labors?

¹⁶ Yes, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

¹⁷ Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor in which he may labor under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

¹⁸ Yes, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

¹⁴ and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed and hath sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

¹⁴ because something happens that causes their money to be gone, and when they die, there is no money for their children to get/inherit.

¹⁵ When we are born, we do not bring anything with us, and when we die, we take nothing with us from all that we have earned by our working hard.

¹⁶ That also seems senseless. People bring nothing into the world when they are born, and they leave this world taking nothing with them. They have worked hard, but they receive no lasting benefit MET.

¹⁷ Furthermore, rich people are always miserable MET and sad, and depressed/discouraged and often sick and ◄resentful/thinking that what has happened to them is unfair►.

¹⁸ So, the best thing for people to do here on the earth during the few years that God allows them to be alive is to eat and drink and to enjoy their work, because those are the things that God has given to them.

¹⁴ As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand.

¹⁵ And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

¹⁶ Yes, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

¹⁷ Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

¹⁸ Yes, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labours for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, in which he labours under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ And I saw the destruction of his wealth by an evil chance; and when he became the father of a son he had nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came from his mother at birth, so does he go again; he gets from his work no reward which he may take away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this again is a great evil, that in all points as he came so will he go; and what profit has he in working for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days are in the dark, and he has much sorrow, pain, disease, and trouble.

¹⁸ This is what I have seen: it is good and fair for a man to take meat and drink and to have joy in all his work under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; that is his reward.

¹⁴ or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go away again as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much vexation, and sickness, and irritation.

¹⁸ Behold what I have seen good and comely: it is to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith man laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for that is his portion.

¹⁴ As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour.

¹⁵ A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind?

¹⁶ All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in many cares, and in misery, and sorrow.

¹⁷ This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion.

¹⁸ And every man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to enjoy his portion, and to rejoice of his labour: this is the gift of God.

¹⁴ They put their money into bad investments and lose everything. Now when we're born, we don't bring anything into the world.

¹⁵ When we die, we leave just as naked as when we were born, taking nothing with us from all we've worked for.

¹⁶ This also makes me sick! What do people gain, working for the wind?

¹⁷ They live their lives in darkness, very frustrated, sick, and resentful.

¹⁸ But I observed that what is good and right is to eat, drink, and to find enjoyment in the work God gives us here in this life. This is God's gift to us.

¹⁴ As hee came foorth of his mothers belly, he shall returne naked to goe as he came, and shall beare away nothing of his labour, which hee hath caused to passe by his hand.

¹⁵ And this also is an euill sickenes that in all pointes as he came, so shall he goe, and what profit hath he that he hath traueiled for the winde?

¹⁶ Also all his dayes hee eateth in darkenes with much griefe, and in his sorowe and anger.

¹⁷ Beholde then, what I haue seene good, that it is comely to eate, and to drinke, and to take pleasure in all his labour, wherein he traueileth vnder the sunne, the whole nomber of the dayes of his life, which God giueth him: for this is his portion.

¹⁸ Also to euery man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures, and giueth him power to eate thereof, and to take his part, and to enioy his labour: this is the gift of God.

¹⁴ (5-13) and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ (5-14) As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ (5-15) And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?

¹⁷ (5-16) All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much vexation and sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ (5-17) Behold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

¹⁸ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

¹⁴ (5:13) And these riches are lost through an unfortunate event; and he begetteth a son, and hath not the least in his hand:

¹⁵ (5:14) As he came forth out of his mother's womb, naked will he return to go as he came; and not the least will he carry off for his toil, which he might take away with him.

¹⁶ (5:15) And also this is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so must he go: and what profit hath he that hath toiled for the wind?

¹⁷ (5:16) All his days also had he to eat in darkness, and hath had much vexation and wrath with his sickness.

¹⁸ (5:17) Behold, what I have truly seen as a good thing, that it is fitting to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all one's toil that he taketh under the sun the number of the days of his life, which God hath given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, He shall return back as he came, And he shall receive nothing for his labor, That it should go with him in his hand.

¹⁵ And this is also an evil infirmity: For as he came, so also shall he return: And what is his gain, for which he vainly labors?

¹⁶ Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, And much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

¹⁷ Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man To eat and to drink, And to see good In all his labor in Which he may labor under the sun, All the number of the days of his life Which God has given to him: For it is his portion.

¹⁸ Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given Wealth and possessions, and has given him Power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, And to rejoice in his labor; This is the gift of God.

¹⁴ For those riches perish by some calamity, and, if he have a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came forth from his mother's womb naked, so shall he go away again, as he came, and shall take away nothing of his labor which he may carry in his hand.

¹⁶ This is also a sore evil, that, in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit is there to him who toileth for wind?

¹⁷ Also all his days he ate in darkness, and had much grief and anxiety and vexation.

¹⁸ Behold, what I have seen is, that it is good and proper for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor which he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.

¹⁴ When the rich man loses his wealth through bad luck, his own son, one whom he has fathered, is left with nothing in his hands.

¹⁵ As a man comes from his mother's womb, so also he will leave naked. He can take none of the fruits of his labor in his hand.

¹⁶ Another evil is that as a person comes, so he goes away. So what profit is there for him who works for the wind?

¹⁷ During his days he eats with darkness and is greatly distressed with sickness and anger.

¹⁸ Look, what I have seen to be good and suitable is to eat and drink and to enjoy the gain from all our work, as we labor under the sun during the days of this life that God has given us. For this is man's assignment.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labours for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, in which he labours under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ But those riches perish by evil labor: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came into the world, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

¹⁸ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵ As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labours for the wind?

¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

¹⁸ Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, in which he labours under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

¹⁴ For they perish in the worst torment; he begat a son, that shall be in sovereign neediness.

¹⁵ As he went naked out of his mother’s womb, so he shall turn again; and he shall take away with him nothing of his travail.

¹⁶ Utterly it is a wretched sickness; as he came, so he shall turn again. What profiteth it to him, that he travailed into the wind?

¹⁷ In all the days of his life he ate in darknesses, and in many busynesses, and in neediness, and sorrow.

¹⁸ Therefore this seemed good to me, that a man eat, and drink, and use gladness of his travail, in which he travailed under the sun, in the number of the days of his life, which God gave to him; and this is his part.

¹⁴ For they perish in the worst torment; (and) he begat a son, that shall be in sovereign neediness. (And then those riches be lost in a terrible calamity; and so he hath begotten a son, who shall be left in great neediness.)

¹⁵ As he went naked out of his mother’s womb, so he shall turn again; and he shall take away with him nothing of his travail. (As he went naked out of his mother’s womb, so he shall return; and he shall not take away with him anything gained from all his labour.)

¹⁶ Utterly it is a wretched sickness; as he came, so he shall turn again. What profiteth it to him, that he travailed into the wind? (Yea, it is utterly a wretched sickness; as he came, so he shall return. What hath it profited him? he hath only laboured for the wind!)

¹⁷ In all the days of his life he ate in darknesses, and in many busynesses, and in neediness, and sorrow.

¹⁸ Therefore this seemed good to me, that a man eat, and drink, and use gladness of his travail, in which he travailed under the sun, in the number of days of his life, which God gave to him; and this is his part. (And so it seemed good to me, that a person should eat, and drink, and enjoy, or get happiness from, the fruits of his labour, for which he laboured under the sun, in the days of his life, which God gave to him; yea, this is his portion.)

¹⁴ And that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand!

¹⁵ As he came out from the belly of his mother, naked he turneth back to go as he came, and he taketh not away anything of his labour, that doth go in his hand.

¹⁶ And this also is a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage is to him who laboureth for wind?

¹⁷ Also all his days in darkness he consumeth, and sadness, and wrath, and sickness abound.

¹⁸ Lo, that which I have seen: It is good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it is his portion.