Catholic Public Domain Version
"Just as he went forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors. "
— Ecclesiastes 5:14, Catholic Public Domain Version
“But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.”
“and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. ”
“Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.”
“Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.”
“As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour.”
“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.”
“But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.”
Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he consumes little or much. But the satiation of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.
There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner.
For they are lost in a most grievous affliction. He has produced a son, who will be in the utmost destitution.
Just as he went forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors.
It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?
All the days of his life he consumes: in darkness, and with many worries, and in distress as well as sadness.
And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion.