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Ecclesiastes 5:16

This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

KJV

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?

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Commentary

3 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
וְגַם־ve.gam-and alsoH1571 →
זֹה֙zohthisH2090 →
רָעָ֣הra.'Ah[is] an evilH7451 →
חוֹלָ֔הcho.LahsevereH2470 →
כָּל־kol-likeH3605 →
עֻמַּ֥ת'u.Matexactly asH5980 →
שֶׁבָּ֖אshe.Ba'[that] which <he> cameH935 →
כֵּ֣ןkensoH3651 →
יֵלֵ֑ךְye.Lekhhe will goH1980 →
וּמַה־u.mah-and what?H4100 →
יִּתְר֣וֹןyit.Ron[is the] profitH3504 →
ל֔וֹlo[belongs] to <the> him
שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖לshei.ya.'a.Molthat he will toilH5998 →
לָרֽוּחַ׃la.Ru.achfor the windH7307 →

The walk

Related verses

13 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Proverbs 11:29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.Ecclesiastes 1:3What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?Ecclesiastes 3:9What does the worker gain from his toil?Mark 8:36What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”Jeremiah 2:8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.1 Samuel 12:21Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.Hosea 8:7For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.Isaiah 26:18We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world.Ecclesiastes 2:22–23For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.Ecclesiastes 6:2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

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About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →
Continue: Ecclesiastes 5 →