Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:
2 It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
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 were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child 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 arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other;
6 Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and enjoy no good; do not all go to one place?
7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?
9 It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption 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 Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
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 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
Seeing there are many words that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future 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?
