Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavy on men.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 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.
A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth 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.
3 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.
If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 Even such a baby is born in futility and passes away in darkness, and its name remains hidden.
For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Although this child does not see the sun or know anything, it has rest even though that man did not.
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6 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.
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 All a man's work is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 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?
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 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.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 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.
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 The more words that are spoken, the more futility increases, so what advantage is that to a man?
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 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?
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?
