Ecclesiastes 5:16
Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
KJV1611 – Modern English
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
King James Version 1611 (Original)
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And this{H2090} also is a grievous{H2470} evil,{H7451} that in all points{H5980} as he came,{H935} so shall he go:{H3212} and what profit{H3504} hath he that he laboreth{H5998} for the wind?{H7307}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And this{H2090} also is a sore{H2470}{(H8802)} evil{H7451}, that in all points{H5980} as he came{H935}{(H8804)}, so shall he go{H3212}{(H8799)}: and what profit{H3504} hath he that hath laboured{H5998}{(H8799)} for the wind{H7307}?
Coverdale Bible (1535)
This is a miserable plage, yt he shal go awaye euen as he came. What helpeth it him then, yt he hath labored in the wynde?
Geneva Bible (1560)
(5:15) And this also is an euill sickenes that in all pointes as he came, so shall he goe, and what profit hath he that he hath traueiled for the winde?
Bishops' Bible (1568)
This is a miserable plague, that he shall go euen as he came away: What helpeth it him then that he hath laboured in the wynde?
Authorized King James Version (1611)
And this also [is] a sore evil, [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Webster's Bible (1833)
This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
And this also `is' a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage `is' to him who laboureth for wind?
American Standard Version (1901)
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
American Standard Version (1901)
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
Bible in Basic English (1941)
All his days are in the dark, and he has much sorrow, pain, disease, and trouble.
World English Bible (2000)
This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?
Referenced Verses
- Prov 11:29 : 29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.
- Eccl 1:3 : 3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- Eccl 2:22-23 : 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.
- Eccl 5:13 : 13 Or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children, there is nothing left for them to inherit.
- Isa 26:18 : 18 We were pregnant, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth only to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and no one is born to inhabit the world.
- Jer 2:8 : 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds rebelled against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed worthless things.
- Hos 8:7 : 7 For they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it will yield no flour. Even if it does produce, strangers will swallow it up.
- Mark 8:36 : 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
- John 6:27 : 27 'Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal of approval.'
- 1 Sam 12:21 : 21 Do not turn aside, for you would be following things that are worthless and cannot benefit or deliver you, for they are meaningless.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 5:13-153 verses87%
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.
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?
- Eccl 1:2-32 verses82%
2 “Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- Eccl 2:17-248 verses80%
17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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.
20 So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.
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.
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.
- Eccl 5:17-182 verses80%
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.
18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
- 79%
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.
- 79%
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.
- 79%
9 What does the worker gain from all their toil?
- Eccl 6:1-99 verses79%
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.
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.
8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?
9 Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.
- Eccl 4:3-42 verses77%
3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Eccl 4:7-82 verses77%
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!
- 76%
14 I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Eccl 1:5-62 verses76%
5 The sun rises, and the sun sets, and it hurries back to where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
- Eccl 6:11-122 verses76%
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?
- 75%
8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'
- 75%
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?
- 75%
3 This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.
- Eccl 3:19-202 verses75%
19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.
20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
- 74%
26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 74%
14 There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'
- 74%
2 He springs up like a flower and withers away; he flees like a shadow and does not endure.
- 74%
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.
- 74%
8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.
- 73%
10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place, but now they are forgotten in the city where they acted this way. This too is meaningless.
- 73%
17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.
- 73%
16 The wind blows over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
- 72%
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.