And I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry [envy, competition] between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun:Verse 18 introduces the second person:
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:And third, in 6:1:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun...
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. And this also is a grievous evil---exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So, what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Lord, we ask you to give us enterprise in our world, homes that we may fill with life, and work that we can do to your glory. And as we are given this world's goods, help us not to love them but to serve you, to be stewards of what we have. Make us a people who are rich in good works so that we may indeed take hold of life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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