Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an euill, which I sawe vnder the sunne, and it is much among men:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavy on 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.
God might give riches, wealth, and honor to a man so that he lacks nothing that he desires for himself, but then God gives him no ability to enjoy it. Instead, someone else uses his things. This is vapor, an evil affliction.
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 fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but if his heart is not satisfied with good and he is not buried, then I say that a baby that is born dead is better off than he is.
4 For he commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse: and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.
Even such a baby is born in futility and passes away in darkness, and its name remains hidden.
5 Also he hath not seene ye sunne, nor knowen it: therefore this hath more rest then the other.
Although this child does not see the sun or know anything, it has rest even though that man did not.
6 And if he had liued a thousand yeeres twise tolde, and had seene no good, shall not all goe to one place?
Even if a man should live for two thousand years but does not learn to enjoy good things, he goes to the same place as everyone else.
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth: yet the soule is not filled.
All a man's work is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8 For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?
Indeed, what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have even if he knows how to act in front of other people?
9 The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.
It is better to be satisfied with what the eyes see than to desire what a wandering appetite craves, which is also vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
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.
Whatever has existed has already been given its name, and what mankind is like has already been known. So it has become useless to dispute with the one who is the mighty judge of all.
11 Surely there be many things that increase vanitie: and what auaileth it man?
The more words that are spoken, the more futility increases, so what advantage is that to a man?
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 his life during his futile, numbered days through which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come under the sun after he passes?
