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

There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for 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.

God 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

6 Y es, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?

Even 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?

7 A ll the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

All a man’s work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger 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 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?

9 B etter is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

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

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.

Whatever 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.

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

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

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 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?