Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

⁹ The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. ¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. ¹¹ As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? ¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. ¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, ¹⁴ or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. ¹⁵ Everyone comes naked from their mother's womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. ¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? ¹⁷ All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

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Other Translations of Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

King James Version

⁹ Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. ¹⁰ He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? ¹² The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. ¹³ There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 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.

English Standard Version

⁹ But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain ¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? ¹² Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. ¹³ There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, ¹⁴ and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. ¹⁵ As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? ¹⁷ Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

The Message

⁹ But the good earth doesn't cheat anyone - even a bad king is honestly served by a field. ¹⁰ The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke. ¹¹ The more loot you get, the more looters show up. And what fun is that - to be robbed in broad daylight? ¹² Hard and honest work earns a good night's sleep, Whether supper is beans or steak. But a rich man's belly gives him insomnia. ¹³ Here's a piece of bad luck I've seen happen: A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him ¹⁴ And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn't a cent left to give him. ¹⁵ He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He'll leave in the same condition - with nothing. ¹⁶ This is bad luck, for sure - naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke? ¹⁷ All for a miserable life spent in the dark?

New King James Version

⁹ Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field. ¹⁰ He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes? ¹² The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. ¹³ There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. ¹⁴ But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. ¹⁵ As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶ And this also is a severe evil-- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? ¹⁷ All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

New Living Translation

⁹ Even the king milks the land for his own profit! ¹⁰ Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! ¹¹ The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth-except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! ¹² People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night's sleep. ¹³ There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. ¹⁴ Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children. ¹⁵ We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us. ¹⁶ And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing-like working for the wind. ¹⁷ Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud-frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

(Read Ecclesiastes 5:9-17)

The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more men have, the better house they must keep, the more servants they must employ, the more guests they must entertain, and the more they will have hanging on them. The sleep of the labourer is sweet, not only because he is tired, but because he has little care to break his sleep. The sleep of the diligent Christian, and his long sleep, are sweet; having spent himself and his time in the service of God, he can cheerfully repose in God as his Rest. But those who have every thing else, often fail to secure a good night's sleep; their abundance breaks their rest. Riches do hurt, and draw away the heart from God and duty. Men do hurt with their riches, not only gratifying their own lusts, but oppressing others, and dealing hardly with them. They will see that they have laboured for the wind, when, at death, they find the profit of their labour is all gone like the wind, they know not whither. How ill the covetous worldling bears the calamities of human life! He does not sorrow to repentance, but is angry at the providence of God, angry at all about him; which doubles his affliction.