Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 5:10–16

10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

15As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. 16This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
He who lovesאֹהֵ֥ב’ō·hêḇVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH157 love
moneyכֶּ֙סֶף֙ke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
is neverלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
satisfiedיִשְׂבַּ֣עyiś·ba‘Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7646 be sated, satisfied, surfeited
by moneyכֶּ֔סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
and he whoוּמִֽי־ū·mî-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4310 who?
lovesאֹהֵ֥ב’ō·hêḇVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH157 love
wealthבֶּהָמ֖וֹןbe·hā·mō·wnPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1995 sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance
is neverלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
by incomeתְבוּאָ֑הṯə·ḇū·’āhNoun - feminine singularH8393 product, revenue
Thisזֶ֖הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
tooגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
is futileהָֽבֶל׃hā·ḇelNoun - masculine singularH1892 vapour, breath

Ecclesiastes 5:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When good thingsהַטּוֹבָ֔הhaṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
increaseבִּרְבוֹת֙bir·ḇō·wṯPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
so doרַבּ֖וּrab·būVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH7231 be or become, many, much
those who consume themאוֹכְלֶ֑יהָ’ō·wḵ·le·hāVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH398 eat
what thenוּמַה־ū·mah-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
is the profitכִּשְׁרוֹן֙kiš·rō·wnNoun - masculine singularH3788 skill, success
to the ownerלִבְעָלֶ֔יהָliḇ·‘ā·le·hāPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH1167 owner, lord
exceptכִּ֖יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
to behold themרְאִיַּתrə·ʾī·yaṯNoun - feminine singular constructH7207 sight, satisfaction
with his eyesעֵינָֽיו׃‘ê·nāwNoun - cdc; third person masculine singularH5869 eye

Ecclesiastes 5:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The sleepשְׁנַ֣תšə·naṯNoun - feminine singular constructH8142 sleep
of the workerהָעֹבֵ֔דhā·‘ō·ḇêḏArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5647 work, serve
is sweetמְתוּקָה֙mə·ṯū·qāhAdjective - feminine singularH4966 sweet
whetherאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
he eatsיֹאכֵ֑לyō·ḵêlVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH398 eat
littleמְעַ֥טmə·‘aṭAdjective - masculine singularH4592 a little, fewness, a few
orוְאִם־wə·’im-ConjunctionH518 if
muchהַרְבֵּ֖הhar·bêhVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
but the abundanceוְהַשָּׂבָע֙wə·haś·śā·ḇā‘Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7647 plenty, satiety
of the rich manלֶֽעָשִׁ֔ירle·‘ā·šîrPreposition-l, Article; Adjective - masculine singularH6223 rich
permitsמַנִּ֥יחַֽman·nî·aḥVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH5117 rest
himל֖וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
noאֵינֶ֛נּוּ’ê·nen·nūAdverb; third person masculine singularH369 nothing, nought
sleepלִישֽׁוֹן׃lî·šō·wnPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH3462 sleep

Ecclesiastes 5:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
There isיֵ֚שׁyêšAdverbH3426 being, substance, existence
a grievousחוֹלָ֔הḥō·w·lāhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularH2470 be weak, sick
evilרָעָ֣הrā·‘āhAdjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
I have seenרָאִ֖יתִיrā·’î·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH7200 see
underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯPrepositionH8478 the under part
the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁhaš·šā·mešArticle; Noun - common singularH8121 sun
wealthעֹ֛שֶׁר‘ō·šerNoun - masculine singularH6239 be or become rich
hoardedשָׁמ֥וּרšā·mūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve
to the harmלְרָעָתֽוֹ׃lə·rā·‘ā·ṯōwPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
of its ownerלִבְעָלָ֖יוliḇ·‘ā·lāwPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1167 owner, lord

Ecclesiastes 5:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
orהַה֖וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
wealthהָעֹ֥שֶׁרhā·‘ō·šerArticle; Noun - masculine singularH6239 be or become rich
lostוְאָבַ֛דwə·’ā·ḇaḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH6 perish
in a failedרָ֑עrā‘Adjective - masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
ventureבְּעִנְיַ֣ןbə·‘in·yanPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH6045 occupation, task
so whenוְהוֹלִ֣ידwə·hō·w·lîḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH3205 bear, bring forth, beget
a sonבֵּ֔ןbênNoun - masculine singularH1121 son
there is nothingוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ênConjunctive waw; AdverbH369 nothing, nought
to pass onבְּיָד֖וֹbə·yā·ḏōwPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand

Ecclesiastes 5:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Asכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
cameיָצָא֙yā·ṣāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3318 go or come out
from his mother’sאִמּ֔וֹ’im·mōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH517 mother
wombמִבֶּ֣טֶןmib·be·ṭenPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH990 belly, body, womb
so he will departלָלֶ֖כֶתlā·le·ḵeṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1980 go, come, walk
againיָשׁ֥וּבyā·šūḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
nakedעָר֛וֹם‘ā·rō·wmAdjective - masculine singularH6174 naked
as he arrivedכְּשֶׁבָּ֑אkə·šeb·bāPreposition-k, Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
He takesיִשָּׂ֣אyiś·śāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5375 lift, take, carry
nothingוּמְא֙וּמָה֙ū·mə·’ū·māhConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3972 anything
for his laborבַעֲמָל֔וֹḇa·‘ă·mā·lōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5999 trouble, labour, toil
to carryשֶׁיֹּלֵ֖ךְše·yō·lêḵPronoun - relative; Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
in his handsבְּיָדֽוֹ׃bə·yā·ḏōwPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand

Ecclesiastes 5:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thisזֹה֙zōhPronoun - feminine singularH2090 this, that
tooוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
is a grievousחוֹלָ֔הḥō·w·lāhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularH2470 be weak, sick
afflictionרָעָ֣הrā·‘āhAdjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
Exactly asכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
a man is bornשֶׁבָּ֖אšeb·bāPronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
soכֵּ֣ןkênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
he will departיֵלֵ֑ךְyê·lêḵVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
Whatוּמַה־ū·mah-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
does he gainיִּתְר֣וֹןyiṯ·rō·wnNoun - masculine singularH3504 advantage, profit
as he toilsשֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖לše·ya·‘ă·mōlPronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5998 labour, toil
for the windלָרֽוּחַ׃lā·rū·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Noun - common singularH7307 breath, wind, spirit

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 1 Timothy 6:10 · Matthew 6:24 · Luke 12:15 · Matthew 6:19 · Ecclesiastes 4:8 · Ecclesiastes 4:4 · Ecclesiastes 2:26 · Psalm 62:10 · Psalm 52:7 · Habakkuk 2:5–7 · Ecclesiastes 2:11 · Ecclesiastes 3:19

Ecclesiastes 5:11 1 John 2:16 · Habakkuk 2:13 · Psalm 119:36–37 · Proverbs 23:5 · Ecclesiastes 6:9

Ecclesiastes 5:12 Proverbs 3:24 · Psalm 4:8

Ecclesiastes 5:13 Ecclesiastes 6:1–2 · Luke 18:22–23 · Luke 16:22–23 · Genesis 19:14 · James 5:1–4 · Luke 16:1–13 · Genesis 14:16 · Isaiah 32:6–8 · Proverbs 1:11–13 · Proverbs 11:24–25 · Proverbs 1:19 · Luke 12:16–21

Ecclesiastes 5:14 Ecclesiastes 2:26 · Job 5:5 · Proverbs 23:5 · Matthew 6:19–20 · Job 20:15–29 · Haggai 2:16–17 · Haggai 1:9

Ecclesiastes 5:15 Job 1:21 · Psalm 49:17 · 1 Timothy 6:7 · Luke 12:20

Ecclesiastes 5:16 Ecclesiastes 1:3 · Proverbs 11:29 · Mark 8:36 · Ecclesiastes 5:13 · John 6:27

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.