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

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent 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.

one 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 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—

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

For it cometh in vanity, and departeth 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,

moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.

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

Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: 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.

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

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?

For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth 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.

Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of 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.

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

For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

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?

For 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?