Ecclesiastes 5:16

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?

King James Version

In Context

15As 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.

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

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Cross References

1 Samuel 12:21And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

Ecclesiastes 1:3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Jeremiah 2:8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Mark 8:36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

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 →

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