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
Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon during the golden age of Israel's monarchy, around the 10th century BC, as a reflection on the emptiness of life's pursuits without considering God. In this verse, the author highlights the futility of human labor for wealth, noting that people enter the world with nothing and leave with nothing, which resonated in a culture where economic instability was common and possessions were seen as temporary. This serves as a reminder in ancient Israelite society that true value lies beyond material gains.
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