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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

¶ All the labour of man is for his mouth, and with all this 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 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 desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

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

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.

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

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

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 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?