Ecclesiastes 5:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

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Referenced Verses

  • Ps 127:2 : 2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he provides for those whom he loves even when they sleep.
  • Prov 1:27-29 : 27 when what you dread comes like a whirlwind, and disaster strikes you like a devastating storm, when distressing trouble comes on you. 28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the LORD,
  • Ezek 4:16-17 : 16 Then he said to me,“Son of man, I am about to remove the bread supply in Jerusalem. They will eat their bread ration anxiously, and they will drink their water ration in terror 17 because they will lack bread and water. Each one will be terrified, and they will rot for their iniquity.
  • Acts 12:23 : 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.
  • 1 Cor 11:30-32 : 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead. 31 But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.
  • Gen 3:17 : 17 But to Adam he said,“Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,‘You must not eat from it,’ the ground is cursed because of you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
  • 1 Kgs 17:12 : 12 She said,“As certainly as the LORD your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I’m going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.”
  • 2 Kgs 1:2 : 2 Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders,“Go, ask Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.”
  • 2 Kgs 1:6 : 6 They replied,“A man came up to meet us. He told us,“Go back to the king who sent you and tell him,‘This is what the LORD has said:“You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are sending for an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.”’”
  • 2 Kgs 5:27 : 27 Therefore Naaman’s skin disease will afflict you and your descendants forever!” When Gehazi went out from his presence, his skin was as white as snow.
  • 2 Chr 16:10-12 : 10 Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time. 11 Asa’s Reign Ends The events of Asa’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease, he did not seek the LORD, but only the doctors.
  • 2 Chr 24:24-25 : 24 Even though the invading Syrian army was relatively weak, the LORD handed over to them Judah’s very large army, for the people of Judah had abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors. The Syrians gave Joash what he deserved. 25 When they withdrew, they left Joash badly wounded. His servants plotted against him because of what he had done to the son of Jehoiada the priest. They murdered him on his bed. Thus he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
  • Job 21:25 : 25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.
  • Ps 78:33 : 33 So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.
  • Ps 90:7-9 : 7 Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. 8 You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins. 9 Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away. 11 Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger? Your raging fury causes people to fear you.
  • Ps 102:9 : 9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 2:20-26
    7 verses
    81%

    20So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

    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!

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

    25For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.

    26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • Eccl 5:18-20
    3 verses
    80%

    18Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

    19To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.

    20For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

  • Eccl 5:13-16
    4 verses
    80%

    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.

    15Just 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.

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

  • Eccl 11:8
    77%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Job 21:25
    76%

    25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.

  • Job 15:20-21
    2 verses
    76%

    20All his days the wicked man suffers torment, throughout the number of the years that are stored up for the tyrant.

    21Terrifying sounds fill his ears; in a time of peace marauders attack him.

  • Job 14:22
    76%

    22His flesh only has pain for him, and he mourns for himself.”

  • Job 3:20
    75%

    20Longing for Death“Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,

  • Eccl 6:4-7
    4 verses
    75%

    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!

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    75%

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Eccl 6:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1Not Everyone Enjoys Life Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

    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.

  • Eccl 2:17
    75%

    17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Job 33:19-21
    3 verses
    74%

    19Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones,

    20so that his life loathes food, and his soul rejects appetizing fare.

    21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible.

  • Job 15:23
    74%

    23he wanders about– food for vultures; he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.

  • Eccl 8:15
    73%

    15Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

  • Prov 15:15
    73%

    15All the days of the afflicted are bad, but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

  • Prov 5:11
    73%

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

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

  • Job 21:17
    72%

    17How Often Do the Wicked Suffer?“How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?

  • Eccl 6:12
    72%

    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.

  • Job 18:6
    72%

    6The light in his tent grows dark; his lamp above him is extinguished.

  • Amos 5:20
    72%

    20Don’t you realize the LORD’s day of judgment will bring darkness, not light– gloomy blackness, not bright light?

  • Job 20:22
    72%

    22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. The full force of misery will come upon him.

  • Job 21:20
    72%

    20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.

  • Eccl 1:3
    72%

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

  • Job 18:18
    72%

    18He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world.

  • Eccl 4:4
    71%

    4Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.

  • Job 5:14
    71%

    14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.

  • Eccl 3:12-13
    2 verses
    71%

    12Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

    13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

  • Job 17:7
    71%

    7My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.