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 common among 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 hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth 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 begetteth an hundred children, and liveth many years, so that the days of his years are many, and his soul is not filled with good, and also that he hath no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

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

For he cometh with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

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

Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest 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?

Yea, though he liveth a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no 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 labour 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 hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth 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 is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

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

Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

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 knoweth what is good for man in this 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?