Ecclesiastes 6
1 est et aliud malum quod vidi sub sole et quidem frequens apud homines
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
2 vir cui dedit Deus divitias et substantiam et honorem et nihil deest animae eius ex omnibus quae desiderat nec tribuit ei potestatem Deus ut comedat ex eo sed homo extraneus vorabit illud hoc vanitas et magna miseria est
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 an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3 si genuerit quispiam centum et vixerit multos annos et plures dies aetatis habuerit et anima illius non utatur bonis substantiae suae sepulturaque careat de hoc ego pronuntio quod melior illo sit abortivus
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 frustra enim venit et pergit ad tenebras et oblivione delebitur nomen eius
for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5 non vidit solem neque cognovit distantiam boni et mali
Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
6 etiam si duobus milibus annis vixerit et non fuerit perfruitus bonis nonne ad unum locum properant omnia
Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?
7 omnis labor hominis in ore eius sed anima illius non impletur
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 quid habet amplius sapiens ab stulto et quid pauper nisi ut pergat illuc ubi est vita
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
9 melius est videre quod cupias quam desiderare quod nescias sed et hoc vanitas est et praesumptio spiritus
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
10 qui futurus est iam vocatum est nomen eius et scitur quod homo sit et non possit contra fortiorem se in iudicio contendere
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 verba sunt plurima multa in disputando habentia vanitatem
For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
12 quid necesse est homini maiora se quaerere cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua numero dierum peregrinationis suae et tempore quo velut umbra praeterit aut quis ei poterit indicare quid post eum futurum sub sole sit
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?
