Ecclesiastes 6:2

New English Translation

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor – instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

Cross References

1 Kings 3:13

Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.

1 Chronicles 29:25

The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.

1 Chronicles 29:28

He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him.

2 Chronicles 1:11

God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this, and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, and because you did not ask for long life, but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king,

Psalm 17:14

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

Psalm 39:6

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

Psalm 73:7

Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Ecclesiastes 5:13

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:18

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.

Isaiah 55:2

Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!

Lamentations 5:2

Our inheritance is turned over to strangers; foreigners now occupy our homes.

Daniel 5:18

As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.

Hosea 7:9

Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, but he does not recognize it! His head is filled with gray hair, but he does not realize it!

Deuteronomy 28:33

As for the produce of your land and all your labor, a people you do not know will consume it, and you will be nothing but oppressed and crushed for the rest of your lives.

Deuteronomy 28:43

The foreigners who reside among you will become higher and higher over you and you will become lower and lower.

Judges 18:10

When you invade, you will encounter unsuspecting people. The land is wide! God is handing it over to you – a place that lacks nothing on earth!”