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 great on man:

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 giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this vanity, and it 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 doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, `Better than he the untimely birth.'

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

For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,

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

Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.

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

And though he had lived a thousand years twice over, yet good he hath not seen; to the same place doth not every one go?

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

All the labour of man for his mouth, and yet the soul 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 to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who 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 the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This 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.

What that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.

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

For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage to 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 knoweth what good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?