Ecclesiastes 6

1 [Est et aliud malum quod vidi sub sole, et quidem frequens apud homines:

There is an euill, which I sawe vnder the sunne, and it is much among men:

2 vir cui dedit Deus divitias, et substantiam, et honorem, et nihil deest animæ suæ ex omnibus quæ desiderat; nec tribuit ei potestatem Deus ut comedat ex eo, sed homo extraneus vorabit illud: hoc vanitas et miseria magna est.

A man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth: but God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a strange man shall eate it vp: this is vanitie, and this is an euill sicknesse.

3 Si genuerit quispiam centum liberos, et vixerit multos annos, et plures dies ætatis habuerit, et anima illius non utatur bonis substantiæ suæ, sepulturaque careat: de hoc ergo pronuntio quod melior illo sit abortivus.

If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, and his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he.

4 Frustra enim venit, et pergit ad tenebras, et oblivione delebitur nomen ejus.

For he commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse: and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.

5 Non vidit solem, neque cognovit distantiam boni et mali.

Also he hath not seene ye sunne, nor knowen it: therefore this hath more rest then the other.

6 Etiam si duobus millibus annis vixerit, et non fuerit perfruitus bonis, nonne ad unum locum properant omnia?

And if he had liued a thousand yeeres twise tolde, and had seene no good, shall not all goe to one place?

7 Omnis labor hominis in ore ejus; sed anima ejus non implebitur.

All the labour of man is for his mouth: yet the soule is not filled.

8 Quid habet amplius sapiens a stulto? et quid pauper, nisi ut pergat illuc ubi est vita?

For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?

9 Melius est videre quod cupias, quam desiderare quod nescias. Sed et hoc vanitas est, et præsumptio spiritus.

The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

10 Qui futurus est, jam vocatum est nomen ejus; et scitur quod homo sit, et non possit contra fortiorem se in judicio contendere.

What is that that hath bene? the name thereof is nowe named: and it is knowen that it is man: and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he.

11 Verba sunt plurima, multamque in disputando habentia vanitatem.]

Surely there be many things that increase vanitie: and what auaileth it man?

12 [Quid necesse est homini majora se quærere, cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua, numero dierum peregrinationis suæ, et tempore quod velut umbra præterit? aut quis ei poterit indicare quod post eum futurum sub sole sit?

For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the nomber of the dayes of the life of his vanitie, seeing he maketh them as a shadowe? For who can shewe vnto man what shall be after him vnder the sunne?