Ecclesiastes 6

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

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

2 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.

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 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:

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 comes in vanity, and departs 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 has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

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

6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy 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 labor 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 has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how 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 sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

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

10 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.

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 words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

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

12 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?

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?