Ecclesiastes 5:15
This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain from all his labor for the wind?
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
KJV1611 – Modern English
As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor which he may carry away in his hand.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
As he came forth{H3318} from his mother's{H517} womb,{H990} naked{H6174} shall he go{H3212} again{H7725} as he came,{H935} and shall take{H5375} nothing{H3972} for his labor,{H5999} which he may carry away{H3212} in his hand.{H3027}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
As he came forth{H3318}{(H8804)} of his mother's{H517} womb{H990}, naked{H6174} shall he return{H7725}{(H8799)} to go{H3212}{(H8800)} as he came{H935}{(H8804)}, and shall take{H5375}{(H8799)} nothing{H3972} of his labour{H5999}, which he may carry away{H3212}{(H8686)} in his hand{H3027}.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
Like as he came naked out of his mothers wombe, so goeth he thither agayne, and carieth nothinge awaye with him of all his laboure.
Geneva Bible (1560)
(5:14) As hee came foorth of his mothers belly, he shall returne naked to goe as he came, and shal beare away nothing of his labour, which hee hath caused to passe by his hand.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
Lyke as he came naked out of his mothers wombe, so goeth he thyther agayne, and caryeth nothyng away with him of all his labour.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Webster's Bible (1833)
As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
As he came out from the belly of his mother, naked he turneth back to go as he came, and he taketh not away anything of his labour, that doth go in his hand.
American Standard Version (1901)
As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
American Standard Version (1901)
As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
And this again is a great evil, that in all points as he came so will he go; and what profit has he in working for the wind?
World English Bible (2000)
As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
Just as he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.
Referenced Verses
- Job 1:21 : 21 He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be blessed.'
- Ps 49:17 : 17 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house increases.
- 1 Tim 6:7 : 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
- Luke 12:20 : 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared—who will they belong to?'
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 5:16-172 verses87%
16 Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.
17 Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward.
- Eccl 5:13-142 verses86%
13 Or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children, there is nothing left for them to inherit.
14 As everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, so they depart naked as they came. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
- 78%
21 He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be blessed.'
- Eccl 6:2-76 verses77%
2 God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.
3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4 For it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.
5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.
6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?
7 All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.
- 76%
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
- 74%
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- Job 14:1-22 verses74%
1 Man, born of a woman, is short-lived and full of trouble.
2 He springs up like a flower and withers away; he flees like a shadow and does not endure.
- Eccl 2:21-233 verses73%
21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?
23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
- 72%
6 Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely, every man is but a breath. Selah.
- 72%
9 What does the worker gain from all their toil?
- Eccl 4:7-82 verses72%
7 Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.
8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
- 72%
5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how bones are formed in a pregnant woman's womb, so you cannot understand the workings of God who makes everything.
- 72%
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
- 72%
7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- 72%
29 He will no longer be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread out across the land.
- 71%
17 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house increases.
- 71%
11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay, so is one who gains wealth by unjust means. In the middle of his life, it will desert him, and in the end, he will prove to be a fool.
- 71%
10 He will never come back to his house; his place will know him no more.
- 71%
18 He will give back the fruit of his labor but will not swallow it; like the wealth of his trade, he will not enjoy it.
- 71%
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
- 71%
11 Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
- 71%
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- 71%
15 all flesh would perish together, and mankind would return to dust.
- Eccl 4:15-162 verses71%
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun following the youth, the second one, who replaces him.
16 There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 71%
20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
- 70%
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
- 70%
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.
- 70%
11 and poverty will come upon you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
- 70%
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
- 70%
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his arms.
- 70%
11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.
- 69%
5 The sun rises, and the sun sets, and it hurries back to where it rises.
- Eccl 6:11-122 verses69%
11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
- Eccl 2:18-192 verses69%
18 I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.
19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
- 69%
19 The rich man lies down, but he will not be gathered; he opens his eyes, and he is no more.
- 69%
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber and need like an armed man.