A frequent misinterpretation of this passage is to view it as a condemnation of all work, saving, or economic provision, promoting instead a fatalistic attitude of poverty or hedonism where one spends freely without planning for the future; in reality, the verse targets the vanity of hoarding wealth as an ultimate good or idol, not diligence itself, and within Ecclesiastes' broader wisdom literature, it complements teachings on enjoying God's gifts responsibly while acknowledging life's inevitable end.
Ecclesiastes 5:15
King James Version (1769)
15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Ecclesiastes 5:15 highlights the profound reality of human mortality and the futility of material accumulation, stating that just as one enters the world naked from the womb, so one departs empty-handed, carrying nothing from their labors; this core truth urges readers to recognize the transient nature of earthly wealth and to prioritize spiritual wisdom, contentment, and fear of God over the endless chase for possessions that offer no lasting security beyond death.