And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
This is also a terrible tragedy: that people leave this world exactly as they came into it. What good does it do someone to work so hard for something as useless as chasing the wind?
The writer is pointing out the sad reality that we can't take any of our earthly possessions with us when we die, making much of our striving ultimately pointless.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon (traditionally considered the author) is reflecting on the vanity of human pursuits, particularly the accumulation of wealth and possessions. In ancient times, as today, people often spent their entire lives working to build up riches and status. The phrase 'laboring for the wind' was a common Hebrew expression meaning to work for something completely worthless or impossible to grasp.
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