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

¶ There is another evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is very common 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, wealth, and honour so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but the strangers eat it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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 begets a hundred sons and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, if his soul is not filled with good and also that he have no burial; I say that an aborted birth is better than he.

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

For he came in vain and departs unto darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

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

Even though he has not seen the sun nor known any thing; this one has more rest than the other.

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

For though the other should live a thousand years twice and has not enjoyed good; both shall surely go to the same place.

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

¶ All the labour of man is for his mouth, and with all this the appetite is not filled.

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

For what has the wise more than the fool? what more has the poor that knows how to walk among 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.

It is better to enjoy the good that is present than the wandering of desire; this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

He that is has been named already; and it is known that he is man and that he shall not be able to contend with him that is mightier than he.

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

¶ Certainly the many words multiply vanity, what more does man have?

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 man in this life, all the days of the life of his vanity which he causes to be as a shadow? for who shall teach the man what shall be after him under the sun?