Ecclesiastes 6:2 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

² those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

² A man to whom God has given riches, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he might desire, yet God does not give him the power or capacity to enjoy them [things which are gifts from God], but a stranger [in whom he has no interest succeeds him and] consumes and enjoys them. This is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); it is a sore affliction! [Luke 12:20.]

American Standard Version (1901)

² a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Common English Bible

² God may give some people plenty of wealth, riches, and glory so that they lack nothing they desire. But God doesn’t enable them to enjoy it; instead, a stranger enjoys it. This is pointless and a sickening tragedy.

Catholic Public Domain Version

² It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

² A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.

Ecclesiastes 6:2 Cross References

1 Kings 3:13

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.

1 Chronicles 29:25

The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:28

He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon succeeded him.

2 Chronicles 1:11

God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you and have not even asked for long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have made you king,

Psalm 17:14

from mortals—by your hand, O Lord— from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones.

Psalm 39:6

Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up and do not know who will gather.

Psalm 73:7

Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt,

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go, and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:18

This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us, for this is our lot.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Likewise, all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God.

Isaiah 55:2

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your earnings for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Lamentations 5:2

Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens.

Daniel 5:18

As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty.

Hosea 7:9

Foreigners devour his strength, but he does not know it; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he does not know it.

Deuteronomy 28:33

A people whom you do not know shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors; you shall be continually abused and crushed

Deuteronomy 28:43

Aliens residing among you shall ascend above you higher and higher, while you shall descend lower and lower.

Judges 18:10

When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is broad—God has indeed given it into your hands—a place where there is no lack of anything on earth.”