1 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men—

2 a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.

3 I f a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he,

4 F or he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.

5 M oreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.

6 Y ea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things— do not all go to one place?”

7 A ll the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.

8 F or what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

9 B etter is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

10 T hat which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

11 S eeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?

12 F or who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?