1 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on 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 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.

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 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:

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 M oreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

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

6 Y es, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t 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 appetite is not filled.

¶ All the labour of man is for his mouth, and with all this the appetite is not filled.

8 F or what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that 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 the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after 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 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.

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

¶ 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 spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be 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?