5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man-
5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.
5 It sees nothing and knows nothing, but is better off by far than anyone living.
5 Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,
5 and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 6:5
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 6:1-6
(Read Ecclesiastes 6:1-6)
A man often has all he needs for outward enjoyment; yet the Lord leaves him so to covetousness or evil dispositions, that he makes no good or comfortable use of what he has. By one means or other his possessions come to strangers; this is vanity, and an evil disease. A numerous family was a matter of fond desire and of high honour among the Hebrews; and long life is the desire of mankind in general. Even with these additions a man may not be able to enjoy his riches, family, and life. Such a man, in his passage through life, seems to have been born for no end or use. And he who has entered on life only for one moment, to quit it the next, has a preferable lot to him who has lived long, but only to suffer.