Ecclesiastes 5:11 — Compare Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit [is] to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

English ASV

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?

English Amplified

When goods increase, they who eat them increase also. And what gain is there to their owner except to see them with his eyes?

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

When goods increase, they who eat them increase also. And what gain is there to their owner except to see them with his eyes?

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

English EASY 2024

As a person's money becomes more, there are more people who want a share of it. Money does not help the people who have a lot of it. They see it, but it quickly disappears.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

The more wealth people have, the more "friends" they have to help spend it. So the rich really gain nothing. They can only look at their wealth.

English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

English GNT (Good News Translation)

The richer you are, the more mouths you have to feed. All you gain is the knowledge that you are rich.

English God's Word - GW 1995

As the number of goods increase, so do the number of people who consume them. What do owners gain {from all their goods} except {the opportunity} to look at them?

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?

English KJV 1611

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

English LSB

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the success to their masters except to look on with their eyes?

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

When there is an increase of good things, there is an increase of those who devour them. And what profit is there to the one who owns good things, except to see them with his eyes?

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Sleep is sweet to the laboring man, whether he eats little or much, but the rich man's abundance allows him no sleep.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

As more and more goods are made, more and more people use them up. So how can those goods benefit their owner? All he can do is look at them with longing.

English NIV

As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

English NKJ 1982

When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?

English NLT

The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth--except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

When goods increase, they increase who eat them; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income. So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it as it runs through your fingers!

English Tyndale 1537

Where as many riches are, there are many also that spend them away. And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth them, saving that he may look upon them with his eyes?