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

2 o ne to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and 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 a sore evil.

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

4 F or it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;

5 m oreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.

6 Y ea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: 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.

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

9 B etter is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

10 T hat which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 F or there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

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