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

2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.

3 I f a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he—

4 f or it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

5 T hough it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,

6 e ven if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

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

8 F or what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?

9 B etter is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

10 W hatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

11 S ince there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?

12 F or who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?