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Updated Bible Version

Ecclesiastes 5:14

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Rich, the;   Riches;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Wealth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adventure;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Fox;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for September 12;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For oft tymes they perishe with his great miserie and trouble: and yf he haue a chylde, it getteth nothyng.
Darby Translation
or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
New King James Version
But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Literal Translation
but those riches perish by an evil use; and he fathers a son, and nothing is in his hand.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then something bad happens and they lose everything. So they have nothing to give to their children.
World English Bible
Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
King James Version (1611)
But those riches perish by euill trauell; and he begetteth a sonne, and there is nothing in his hand.
King James Version
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For oft times they perishe with his greate misery and trouble: and yf he haue a childe, it getteth nothinge.
Amplified Bible
For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child].
American Standard Version
and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Bible in Basic English
And I saw the destruction of his wealth by an evil chance; and when he became the father of a son he had nothing in his hand.
Webster's Bible Translation
But those riches perish by evil labor: and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand.
New English Translation
Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.
Contemporary English Version
Suddenly they lose everything in a bad business deal, then have nothing to leave for their children.
Complete Jewish Bible
Just as he came from his mother's womb, so he will go back naked as he came, and for his efforts he will take nothing that he can carry away in his hand.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And these riches perish by euill trauel, and he begetteth a sonne, and in his hand is nothing.
George Lamsa Translation
And those riches are lost in a bad venture; for when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Hebrew Names Version
Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
New Living Translation
Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children.
New Life Bible
When those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand.
English Revised Version
and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Berean Standard Bible
or wealth lost in a failed venture, so that when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.
New Revised Standard
and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and those riches perish, by being ill employed, - and though he begetteth a son, yet is there in his hand nothing at all.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(5-13) For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want.
Lexham English Bible
That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, he has nothing to leave to him.
English Standard Version
and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
New American Standard Bible
When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.
New Century Version
They lose it all in a bad deal and have nothing to give to their children.
Good News Translation
and then lose it all in some bad deal and end up with nothing left to pass on to their children.
Christian Standard Bible®
That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For thei perischen in the worste turment; he gendride a sone, that schal be in souereyn nedynesse.
Revised Standard Version
and those riches were lost in a bad venture; and he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
Young's Literal Translation
And that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand!

Contextual Overview

9 And the advantage of a land is for everyone. There is a king to [protect] the cultivated field. 10 He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, those that eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, except for looking at [them] with his eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the fullness of the rich will not allow him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: 14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he has begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked he shall go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so he shall go: and what profit does he have that he labors for the wind? 17 All his days also he eats in darkness, and he is intensely vexed, and has sickness and wrath.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

those: Ecclesiastes 2:26, Job 5:5, Job 20:15-29, Job 27:16, Job 27:17, Psalms 39:6, Proverbs 23:5, Haggai 1:9, Haggai 2:16, Haggai 2:17, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:20

and he: 1 Samuel 2:6-8, 1 Samuel 2:36, 1 Kings 14:26, Psalms 109:9-12

Reciprocal: Esther 8:2 - Esther set Job 20:20 - Surely Proverbs 8:18 - durable Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth Ecclesiastes 2:18 - I should Jeremiah 48:36 - the riches Matthew 13:22 - the deceitfulness Luke 12:20 - then 1 Timothy 6:17 - uncertain riches James 5:1 - ye 1 Peter 1:7 - that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But those riches perish by evil travail,.... Or, "by an evil business or affair" n. That is, such riches as are not well got, or are not used as they should be, these waste away and come to nothing; either by the owner's bad management, and misconduct in trade and business; or by fire, tempest, thieves, and robbers, and many other ways and means: these are very certain things; and there are various ways by which they make themselves wings and flee away, under the direction of a divine providence;

and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand; the riches he had hoarded up, he designed for his son; but being stripped of them by one means or another, when he comes to die, has nothing to leave his son: or if his riches do not perish in his own lifetime, yet they are quickly consumed by his son, who, in a short time, has nothing to live upon; and so being brought up a gentleman, and in no business, is in a worse condition than such who have been brought up to work for their living, and in no expectation of an estate after the decease of their friends. The Targum understands it in this latter sense, paraphrasing the words thus,

"and those riches, which he shall leave his son after his death, shall perish, because he hath gotten them in an evil way; and they shall not remain in the hand of the son whom he hath begotten; neither shall anything remain in his hand.''

n בענין רע "occupatione, negotio, vel casu malo", Gejerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Evil travail - Adverse accident, or unsuccessful employment (compare Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 4:8).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. And he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. — He has been stripped of his property by unfortunate trade or by plunderers; and he has nothing to leave to his children.


 
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