Ecclesiastes 6:3

New International Reader's Version

A man might have a hundred children. He might live a long time. But suppose he can’t enjoy his wealth. And suppose he isn’t buried in the proper way. Then it doesn’t matter how long he lives. I’m telling you that a baby that is born dead is better off than that man is.

Cross References

Genesis 33:5

Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children. “Who are these people with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has so kindly given to me.”

Genesis 47:9

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my journey through life are 130. My years have been few and hard. They aren’t as many as the years of my father and grandfather before me.”

2 Kings 10:1

Ahab’s royal family in the city of Samaria had a total of 70 sons. Jehu wrote some letters to the officials of the city. He also sent them to the elders there. And he sent them to the people who took care of Ahab’s children. Jehu said,

2 Kings 9:35

So they went out to bury her. But all they found was her head, feet and hands.

1 Chronicles 28:5

The Lord has given me many sons. From all of them he has chosen my son Solomon. He wants Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom. He wants him to rule over Israel.

2 Chronicles 11:21

Rehoboam loved Absalom’s daughter Maakah. In fact, he loved her more than any of his other wives and concubines. He had a total of 18 wives and 60 concubines. And he had a total of 28 sons and 60 daughters.

Esther 5:11

He bragged to them about how rich he was. He talked about how many sons he had. He spoke about all the ways the king had honored him. He bragged about how the king had given him a high position. It was higher than the position of any of the other nobles and officials.

Esther 7:10

So they did. And they used the pole Haman had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger calmed down.

Job 3:11

“Why didn’t I die when I was born? Why didn’t I die as I came out of my mother’s body?

Job 3:16

Why wasn’t I buried like a baby who was born dead? Why wasn’t I buried like a child who never saw the light of day?

Psalm 58:8

Let them be like a slug that melts away as it moves along. Let them be like a baby that is born dead and never sees the sun.

Proverbs 17:6

Grandchildren are like a crown to older people. And children are proud of their parents.

Ecclesiastes 4:3

But someone who hasn’t been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That’s because that person hasn’t seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Ecclesiastes 6:4

That kind of birth doesn’t have any meaning. The baby dies in darkness and leaves this world. And in darkness it is forgotten.

Jeremiah 22:19

In fact, he will be buried like a donkey. His body will be dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

Jeremiah 36:30

So now the Lord has something to say about Jehoiakim, the king of Judah. He says, “No one from Jehoiakim’s family line will sit on David’s throne. Jehoiakim’s body will be thrown out. It will lie outside in the heat by day and in the frost at night.

Jeremiah 8:2

They will lie outside under the sun, moon and all the stars. All these people had loved and served these things. They had followed them and worshiped them. They had asked them for advice. So the bones of these people will not be gathered up or buried again. Instead, they will be like human waste lying there on the ground.

Matthew 26:24

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”