Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6 laments the futility of human existence under the sun, particularly focusing on the inability to enjoy wealth given by God, which is consumed by strangers. The Preacher asserts that an untimely birth is preferable to a long life devoid of good and proper burial. He concludes that all human labor is driven by an insatiable appetite, and no one truly knows what is good for man in his fleeting, shadow-like life.

The chapter begins by identifying a common evil: a man blessed with riches and honor by God, yet denied the power to enjoy them, with his wealth instead consumed by a stranger, which is deemed vanity and an evil disease. The Preacher then posits that even a man who lives many years and begets numerous children, but whose soul is not filled with good and who lacks burial, is worse off than an untimely birth. He emphasizes that all human toil is for the mouth, yet desire remains perpetually unfulfilled, leading to vexation of spirit. The wise and the fool share a similar fate, as man cannot contend with a power greater than himself. Ultimately, the Preacher questions what true benefit man gains from his many vain pursuits, as no one can discern what is truly good for him in this transient life or what will transpire after his death.

Ecclesiastes 6 opens with the observation of a significant evil prevalent among men: an individual to whom God grants abundant riches, wealth, and honor, fulfilling all his desires, yet denies him the capacity to enjoy these blessings. Instead, a stranger consumes his bounty, a situation the Preacher labels as profound vanity and a grievous affliction. He then presents a stark comparison, stating that a man who lives many years, even begetting a hundred children, but whose soul remains unfulfilled by good and who lacks a proper burial, is less fortunate than an untimely birth. Such a one, he argues, comes in vanity, departs in darkness, and is forgotten, whereas the untimely birth finds more rest, having never experienced the sun or known anything. The Preacher further contends that even a life extending two thousand years is worthless if no good is seen, as all ultimately proceed to the same destination. He then shifts to the universal nature of human labor, asserting that all man's toil is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never truly satisfied. He questions the advantage of the wise over the fool, or the poor who know how to navigate life, concluding that the immediate satisfaction of sight is better than the endless, wandering pursuit of desire, which is also vanity and vexation of spirit. The Preacher reflects that man's nature is already established, and he cannot contend with one mightier than himself. Finally, he ponders the ultimate futility of increasing vanity, asking what benefit man truly gains. He concludes with the profound uncertainty of human existence, questioning who truly knows what is good for man during his fleeting, shadow-like life, and who can reveal what will come after him under the sun.