Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men:

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

2 one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and 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 a sore evil.

a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, and nothing is wanting to him of all which he desireth, yet God giveth him not to taste thereof; but a stranger enjoyeth it. This is vanity, yea, a grievous evil.

3 If a man beget a hundred [sons], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he.

Though a man have a hundred children, and live many years, and though the days of his years be many, if his soul be not satisfied with good, and he have no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better than he.

4 For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;

This, indeed, cometh in nothingness, and goeth down into darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;

5 moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.

it hath not seen the sun, nor known it; yet hath it rest rather than the other.

6 Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and see no good, — do not all go to one place?

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

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet his desires are not satisfied.

8 For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?

9 Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

10 That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

That which is was long ago called by name; and it was known that he is a man, and that he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

11 For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

Seeing there are many things which increase vanity, what advantage hath man [[from them]]?

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

For who knoweth what is good for man in life, in 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?