1 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavily upon men:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:

2 A man to whom God has given riches, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he might desire, yet God does not give him the power or capacity to enjoy them, but a stranger consumes and enjoys them. This is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); it is a sore affliction!

a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3 I f a man begets a hundred children and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, but his life is not filled with good, and also he is given no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better off than he,

If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:

4 F or comes in futility and goes into darkness, and in darkness his name is covered.

for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

5 M oreover, he has not seen the sun nor had any knowledge, yet he has rest rather than he.

Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

6 E ven though he lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment—do not all go to one place ?

Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?

7 A ll the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet his desire is not satisfied.

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 F or what advantage has the wise man over the fool ? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk before the living ?

For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

9 B etter is the sight of the eyes than the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it!

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

10 W hatever is, he has been named that long ago, and it is known that it is man; nor can he contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

11 S eeing that there are many other things and words that increase the emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility, what profit and what outcome is there for man?

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

12 F or who '> limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow ? For who can tell a man what will happen under the sun after he is gone?

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?