1 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common 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 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 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 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 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 vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

for 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,

Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has 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?

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

All the labor 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 has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that 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.

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 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.

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

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

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 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?