Ecclesiastes 5:16

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?

Ecclesiastes 5:16 (KJV)

Context

King Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, looked closely at human life and its meaning. He saw that people often work hard to gather wealth, yet they cannot keep it. In the verses just before this one, he described how riches can be lost through trouble or left behind at death. Here he makes the point even sharper: a person enters the world with nothing and leaves with nothing.

Meaning

The phrase “as he came, so shall he go” reminds us that we bring nothing into this world and take nothing out of it. No matter how much we gather, death strips it all away. Solomon calls this a “sore evil,” meaning a painful and grievous reality. It is hard to accept that all our labor for earthly gain ends in loss.

The question “what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” uses a picture that everyone understands. Wind cannot be caught or held. In the same way, labor done only for material gain gives no lasting benefit. The effort may bring temporary comfort, but it cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the heart.

Biblical connections

This teaching agrees with the whole message of Ecclesiastes. The book does not say that work is wrong. It warns against making wealth the main goal of life. The same truth appears in 1 Timothy 6:7, which says we brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out. Both passages point us to the same conclusion: what we keep forever is what we do for God, not what we store up on earth.

Application

Because possessions do not last, we should not place our hope in them. Instead, we can invest in things that have eternal value. Loving others, growing in faith, and serving God are efforts that death cannot destroy. This does not mean we stop working. It means we work with the right purpose, using our resources to honor God and help people.

This truth also helps us learn contentment. When we understand that wealth is temporary, we can enjoy what God gives us today without always craving more. We can be grateful for daily bread and simple blessings. Our security rests in God, not in bank accounts or property.

Reflection

Solomon’s words are sobering, but they are not meant to discourage us. They are meant to free us from the false hope that possessions can save us. True profit is found in fearing God and keeping His commandments, as Ecclesiastes 12:13 teaches. When we live with that focus, our labor is not wasted. It becomes part of a life that pleases God and points others to Him.