1 T here is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

2 G od gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad.

a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3 I f a man becomes the father of a hundred children and lives many years until he is very old, but he is not happy with good things, and is not buried as he should be, then I say that the child who dies before it is born is shown more favor than he.

If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:

4 F or this child comes for nothing and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.

for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

5 I t never sees the sun and it never knows anything. It is better off than he.

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

6 E ven if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not find joy in good things, do not all go to the same place?

yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?

7 A ll a man’s work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger is not filled.

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

8 F or what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living?

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

9 W hat the eyes see is better than what there is a desire for. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 W hatever has come to be has already been given a name. It is known what man is, and that he cannot argue with one who is stronger than he.

Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 T he more words there are, the more they are worth nothing. What good is that to anyone?

Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12 F or who knows what is good for a man during his life, during the few years of his living for nothing? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will happen after he is gone under the sun?

For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?