Ecclesiastes 5:15 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹⁵ As they came from their mother’s womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil that they may carry away with their hands.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁵ As 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁵ As [the man] came forth from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; and he will take away nothing for all his labor which he can carry in his hand.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁵ As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

Common English Bible

¹⁵ Just as they came from their mother’s womb naked, naked they’ll return, ending up just like they started. All their hard work produces nothing—nothing they can take with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁵ It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁵ A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:15 Cross References

Job 1:21

He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 15:2

“Should the wise answer with windy knowledge and fill themselves with the east wind?

Psalm 49:17

For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.

Ecclesiastes 5:14

and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.

Hosea 12:2

The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

1 Timothy 6:7

for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it,