Ecclesiastes 5:13

What does Ecclesiastes 5:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 5:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

There is a great evil which I have seen under the sun--wealth kept by the owner to be his downfall.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

There is a painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt;

Context

v.12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

v.13This passage

v.14and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 16:19

    Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:

  • Proverbs 11:4

    Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:8

    There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

  • Luke 16:1

    And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.

  • James 5:1

    Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:1

    There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

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