Ecclesiastes 6:2

A man may have riches, wealth, and honor yet lack the God-given power to enjoy them, and a stranger consumes them instead; this is a grievous evil. It matters because possessing much without the ability to enjoy it is a tragic emptiness.

Cross-references · 21

• Eccl 5:19Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor — this is the gift of God.
• Ps 73:7Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
• Ps 17:14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
• 1 Kgs 3:13I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.
• Lam 5:2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
• Job 21:9–15Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
• Luke 12:19–20I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’
• Dan 5:18You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:
• Ps 39:6“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
• Deut 8:7–10For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills;
• 1 Chr 29:28He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
• Hos 7:9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it.
• 2 Chr 1:11God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,
• Eccl 4:8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
• Eccl 4:4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
• Eccl 2:4–10I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
• Deut 28:33A nation which you don’t know eat the fruit of your ground and all of your work. You will only be oppressed and crushed always;
• Deut 28:43The foreigner who is among you will mount up above you higher and higher, and you will come down lower and lower.
• 1 Chr 29:25Yahweh magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and gave to him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
• Judg 18:10When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”
• Eccl 5:16This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

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