Ecclesiastes 6:2

God might give riches, wealth, and honor to a man so that he lacks nothing that he desires for himself, but then God gives him no ability to enjoy it. Instead, someone else uses his things. This is vapor, an evil affliction.

Unlocked Literal Bible

In The King James Version

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

In Context

1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavy on men.

3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but if his heart is not satisfied with good and he is not buried, then I say that a baby that is born dead is better off than he is.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:33The harvest of your land and of all your labors—a nation that you do not know will eat it up; you will always be oppressed and crushed,

Judges 18:10When you go, you will come to a people who think they are secure, and the land is wide! God has given it to you—a place that does not lack anything in the land.”

1 Chronicles 29:25Yahweh greatly honored Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater power than he had ever given to any king before him in Israel.

2 Chronicles 1:11God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and because you have not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor for the life of those who hate you, nor for long life for yourself, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you might rule my people, over whom I have made you king, and this is what I will do.

Psalms 17:14Rescue me from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of this world whose prosperity is in this life alone! 1 You will fill the bellies of your treasured ones with riches; they will have many children and will leave their wealth to their children. 1

Psalms 73:7Out of such blindness comes sin; 1 evil thoughts pass through their hearts. 1

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 6:2-7

The Miseries of Covetousness. 1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 6:2