Ecclesiastes 5:16

Even this, moreover, is an incurable evil, altogether as he came, so, shall he depart,—what profit then shall he have who toileth for the wind?

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

15As he came from his mother’s womb, naked, he again departeth, as he came,—and, nothing, can he take of his toil, which he can carry in his hand.

17Even all his days, [are spent] in darkness and mourning,—and he is very morose, and is sad and angry.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Cross References

1 Samuel 12:21and turn not aside after vanities, that can neither profit nor deliver, because, vanities, they are.

Ecclesiastes 1:3What profit hath Man, in all his toil wherewith he toileth under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 5:13Here was an incurable evil, I had seen under the sun, riches kept by the owner thereof, to his hurt;

Jeremiah 2:8The priests, said not Where is Yahweh? And, they who handled the law, did not acknowledge me, And the shepherds transgressed against me,—And the prophets, prophesied by Baal, And so after things that could not profit, did they walk.

Mark 8:36For, what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and be made to forfeit his life?

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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Study Ecclesiastes 5:16