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 common among 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 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.

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 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—

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

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

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

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

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?

even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. 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 soul is not satisfied.

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 more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows 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 desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the 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.

Whatever 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.

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

Since there are many things that increase vanity, How 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 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?