Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an euill, which I sawe vnder the sunne, and it is much among men:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth: but God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a strange man shall eate it vp: this is vanitie, and this is an euill sicknesse.
A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3 If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, and his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he.
If a man brought forth an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 For he commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse: and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.
For he comes in with vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Also he hath not seene ye sunne, nor knowen it: therefore this hath more rest then the other.
Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this has more rest than the other.
6 And if he had liued a thousand yeeres twise tolde, and had seene no good, shall not all goe to one place?
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet has he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth: yet the soule is not filled.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?
For what has the wise more than the fool? what has the poor, that knows to walk before the living?
9 The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 What is that that hath bene? the name thereof is nowe named: and it is knowen that it is man: and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he.
That which has been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11 Surely there be many things that increase vanitie: and what auaileth it man?
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the nomber of the dayes of the life of his vanitie, seeing he maketh them as a shadowe? For who can shewe vnto man what shall be after him vnder the sunne?
For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
