Ecclesiastes 5:15 web — As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, whic…

World English Bible

"As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand."

— Ecclesiastes 5:15, World English Bible

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Ecclesiastes 5:15 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 5 — Context

12

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

14

Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15

As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

16

This 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?

17

All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

18

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 5:15 say?
Ecclesiastes 5:15 in the World English Bible reads: “As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 5:15 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 5:15 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verse 15.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 5:15.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 5:15 in?
Ecclesiastes 5:15 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 5:15?
Ecclesiastes 5:15 reads (WEB): “As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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