Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is great on men:

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

2 [There is many] a man to whom God hath given riches, property, and honor, and nothing is wanting for his soul of all that he longeth for: yet God empowereth him not to eat thereof, but a stranger will consume it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but a foreigner eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3 If a man were to beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years were many, and his soul were not satisfied with what is good, and he have not had even a burial: then do I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:

4 For in vanity it came, and in darkness it departeth, and with darkness will its name be covered.

for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

5 Moreover it never saw the sun, and knew nothing: this hath more rest than the other.

Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

6 Yea, though he were to live a thousand years twice told, and had not seen any good— doth not every one go to one place?

Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, do not all go to one place?

7 All the toil of a man is for his mouth; and yet is his desire never filled.

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

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk [properly] before the living?

For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

9 Better is what one seeth with the eyes than the wandering of the desire. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

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

10 That which hath been is already called by its name, and it is known that he is a man: and he is not able to contend with him that is mightier than he.

Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

11 For there are many things that increase vanity: what advantage [cometh thence] for man?

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, the number of the days of his vain life, that he should spend them as a shadow? for who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?