Ecclesiastes 6

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

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

2 a man to whom God giveth 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 thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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

3 If a man beget an hundred children and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover 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 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 it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

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

5 moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

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

6 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good: do not all go to one place?

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

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

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

8 For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth to walk 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 the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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

10 Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is known that it is man: neither can he 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 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

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

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] 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?

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?