The effect of misfortune 5:13-17

The Hebrew expression translated "bad investment"(v. 14) refers to any misfortune that results in the loss of wealth. Striving to hoard the fruits of labor is futile because any misfortune can overtake one and reduce him or her to poverty if God permits. Death itself is such a misfortune that overtakes everyone eventually and robs him of his wealth. No one can take the fruits of his labor with him when he dies. Therefore Solomon concluded that we really gain nothing of lasting value from our labor. Verse 17 pictures the miserly workaholic.