Ecclesiastes 6:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Ps 109:13 : 13 May his descendants be cut off! May the memory of them be wiped out by the time the next generation arrives!

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 6:5-6
    2 verses
    80%

    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!

  • Eccl 5:14-17
    4 verses
    79%

    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?

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

  • Job 18:17-18
    2 verses
    77%

    17His memory perishes from the earth, he has no name in the land.

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

  • Eccl 6:1-3
    3 verses
    77%

    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.

    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!”

  • Job 18:5-6
    2 verses
    76%

    5“Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; his flame of fire does not shine.

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

  • Ps 144:4
    75%

    4People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

  • Eccl 11:8
    75%

    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.

  • Eccl 6:10-12
    3 verses
    75%

    10The Futile Way Life Works Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

    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.

  • Job 14:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    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.

  • Ps 49:19
    74%

    19But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.

  • Job 15:29-30
    2 verses
    73%

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

    30He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots and he will depart by the breath of God’s mouth.

  • Ps 39:6
    73%

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

  • 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!

  • Eccl 4:15-16
    2 verses
    73%

    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 8:10
    72%

    10Contradictions to the Law of Retribution Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

  • Job 3:4-6
    3 verses
    72%

    4That day– let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

    5Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it!

    6That night– let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!

  • Job 20:26
    72%

    26Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

  • Job 7:9-10
    2 verses
    72%

    9As a cloud is dispersed and then disappears, so the one who goes down to the grave does not come up again.

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

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    71%

    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 1:5
    71%

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

  • Ps 49:17
    71%

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

  • Job 3:9
    71%

    9Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,

  • Job 15:23
    71%

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

  • Job 12:22
    71%

    22He reveals the deep things of darkness, and brings deep shadows into the light.

  • Eccl 4:3-4
    2 verses
    71%

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

    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.

  • Eccl 1:3
    70%

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

  • Job 10:21-22
    2 verses
    70%

    21before I depart, never to return, to the land of darkness and the deepest shadow,

    22to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

  • Job 20:8
    70%

    8Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, and like a vision of the night he is put to flight.

  • Eccl 2:19
    70%

    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!