1 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among 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 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.

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 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,

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

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

5 I t never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.

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

6 E ven if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things— 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 a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.

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

8 F or what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing 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 W hat the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

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

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

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

12 F or 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?

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?