Ecclesiastes 5:14
\5:15\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.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
In Context
Cross References
1 Samuel 2:36Then it will be that the rest of your family, anyone who has not been cut off, will go down on his knees to him for a bit of silver or a bit of bread, and say, Be pleased to put me into one of the priest's places so that I may have a little food.
Job 1:21With nothing I came out of my mother's body, and with nothing I will go back there; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; let the Lord's name be praised.
Job 20:15He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.
Psalms 39:6\39:5\You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but a breath. (Selah.)
Psalms 109:9Let his children have no father, and his wife be made a widow.
Ecclesiastes 2:26To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:10-18
The Vanity of Riches. 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.… Read the whole commentary →