3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
Ecclesiastes 6:3
Semantically similar passages
Job 27:13–15
13 This is the wicked man’s portion from God— the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty. 14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food. 15 His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widow…
Sirach 16:1–2
1 Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. (WEB) 2 If they multiply, don’t delight in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them. (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 4:2–4
2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. 4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighb…
Proverbs 17:20–22
20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. 21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy. 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Wisdom of Solomon 4:1–2
1 It is better to be childless with virtue, for immortality is in the memory of virtue, because it is recognized both before God and before men. (WEB) 2 When it is present, people imitate it. They long after it when it has departed. Throughout all time it marches, crown… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 5:13–15
13 There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14 or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on. 15 As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he a…
Wisdom of Solomon 3:16–18
16 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity. The seed of an unlawful union will vanish away. (WEB) 17 For if they live long, they will not be esteemed, and in the end, their old age will be without honor. (WEB) 18 If they die young, they will have no hope, nor consolati… (WEB)
1 Samuel 2:4–6
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength. 5 The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away. 6 The LORD brings death and give…
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