Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lieth heavy upon 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 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.
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 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.
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 This, indeed, cometh in nothingness, and goeth down into darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;
Even such a baby is born in futility and passes away in darkness, and its name remains hidden.
5 it hath not seen the sun, nor known it; yet hath it rest rather than the other.
Although this child does not see the sun or know anything, it has rest even though that man did not.
6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and see no good, — do not all go 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 labor of man is for his mouth, and yet his desires are not satisfied.
All a man's work is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8 For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?
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 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
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 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.
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 Seeing there are many things which increase vanity, what advantage hath man [[from them]]?
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 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?
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?
