Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man:

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

2 a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.

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

3 If a man beget a hundred [children], and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet [if] his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better 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 have not enough of good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he;

4 For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.

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

5 Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is [no more rest] to this one than another.

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

6 Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?

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

7 All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.

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

8 For [what] advantage has the wise man over the fool, since [even] the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?

9 The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.

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

10 If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.

Whatsoever cometh into being, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is foreknown what man is; neither can he contend with Him that is mightier than he.

11 For there are many things which increase vanity.

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

12 What advantage has a man? for who knows [what is] good for a man in his life, [during] the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him 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?