Ecclesiastes 5:15

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Job 1:21 : 21 He said,“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!”
  • Ps 49:17 : 17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.
  • 1 Tim 6:7 : 7 For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.
  • Luke 12:20 : 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 5:16-17
    2 verses
    87%

    16This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

    17Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

  • Eccl 5:13-14
    2 verses
    86%

    13Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

    14Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

  • Job 1:21
    78%

    21He said,“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!”

  • Eccl 6:2-7
    6 verses
    77%

    2God 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.

    3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years– even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity– even if he were to live forever– I would say,“A stillborn child is better off than he is!”

    4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,

    5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man–

    6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

    7All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach– yet his appetite is never satisfied!

  • 1 Tim 6:7
    76%

    7For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.

  • Eccl 1:3
    74%

    3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

  • Job 14:1-2
    2 verses
    74%

    1The Brevity of Life“Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.

    2He grows up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.

  • Eccl 2:21-23
    3 verses
    73%

    21For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

    22Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

    23For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

  • Ps 39:6
    72%

    6Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

  • Eccl 3:9
    72%

    9Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    72%

    7Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:

    8A 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!

  • Eccl 11:5
    72%

    5Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

  • Jer 20:18
    72%

    18Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.

  • Eccl 12:7
    72%

    7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.

  • Job 15:29
    72%

    29He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

  • Ps 49:17
    71%

    17For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.

  • Jer 17:11
    71%

    11The person who gathers wealth by unjust means is like the partridge that broods over eggs but does not hatch them. Before his life is half over he will lose his ill-gotten gains. At the end of his life it will be clear he was a fool.”

  • Job 7:10
    71%

    10He returns no more to his house, nor does his place of residence know him any more.

  • Job 20:18
    71%

    18He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce.

  • Ps 146:4
    71%

    4Their life’s breath departs, they return to the ground; on that day their plans die.

  • Eccl 2:11
    71%

    11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

  • Eccl 9:10
    71%

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Job 34:15
    71%

    15all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

  • Eccl 4:15-16
    2 verses
    71%

    15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

    16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 3:20
    71%

    20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

  • Prov 13:11
    70%

    11Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

  • Gen 3:19
    70%

    19By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

  • Prov 6:11
    70%

    11and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.

  • Eccl 3:22
    70%

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Ps 129:7
    70%

    7which cannot fill the reaper’s hand, or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!

  • Prov 5:11
    70%

    11And at the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are wasted away.

  • Eccl 1:5
    69%

    5The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    69%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Eccl 2:18-19
    2 verses
    69%

    18Futility of Being a Workaholic So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

  • Job 27:19
    69%

    19He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his eyes, it is all gone.

  • Prov 24:34
    69%

    34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”