Ecclesiastes 6:2

God's Word

God gives one person riches, wealth, and honor so that he doesn’t lack anything he wants. Yet, God doesn’t give him the power to enjoy any of them. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless and is a painful tragedy.

Cross References

1 Kings 3:13

I’m also giving you what you haven’t asked for—riches and honor—so that no other king will be like you as long as you live.

1 Chronicles 29:25

The Lord made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.

1 Chronicles 29:28

He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 1:11

God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king.

Psalm 17:14

With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord, from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟, and they leave what remains to their children.

Psalm 39:6

Each person who walks around is like a shadow. They are busy for no reason. They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”

Psalm 73:7

Their eyes peer out from their fat faces, and their imaginations run wild.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But ⌞they never ask themselves⌟ why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

There is a painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This also is a painful tragedy: They leave exactly as they came. What advantage do they gain from working so hard for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:18

At last I have seen what is good and beautiful: It is to eat and drink and to enjoy the good in all our hard work under the sun during the brief lives God gives us. That is our lot ⌞in life⌟.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

It is a gift from God when God gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, ⌞the ability⌟ to accept their lot in life, and ⌞the ability⌟ to rejoice in their own hard work.

Isaiah 55:2

Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you and your wages on what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me: Eat what is good, and enjoy the best foods.

Lamentations 5:2

“The land we inherited has been turned over to strangers. Our homes have been turned over to foreigners.

Daniel 5:18

“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory.

Hosea 7:9

Foreigners are using up your strength, but you don’t realize it. You have become a gray-haired, old man, but you don’t realize it.

Deuteronomy 28:33

People you never knew will eat what your land and your hard work have produced. As long as you live, you will know nothing but oppression and abuse.

Deuteronomy 28:43

The ⌞standard of living for the⌟ foreigners who live among you will rise higher and higher, while your ⌞standard of living⌟ will sink lower and lower.

Judges 18:10

When you get there, you will come to a secure people. The land is wide open to you. God will hand it over to you. It’s a place where you will have everything you could want.”