Ecclesiastes 6

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

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men:

2 a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and 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 a sore evil.

3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are 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 beget a hundred [sons], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he.

4 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

For it cometh in vanity, and departeth 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 hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath 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?

Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

7 All the labor 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 how to walk before the living?

For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth 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 seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

10 Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

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 knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?