1
There is[H3426] an evil[H7451] which I have seen[H7200] under the sun[H8121], and it is[H3426]common[H7227] among men[H120]:
2
A man[H376] to whom God[H430] hath given[H5414]riches[H6239], wealth[H5233], and honour[H3519], so that he wanteth[H2638] nothing for his soul[H5315] of all that he desireth[H183], yet God[H430] giveth him not power[H7980] to eat[H398] thereof, but a stranger[H376]eateth[H398] it: this is vanity[H1892], and it is an evil[H7451]disease[H2483].
3
If a man[H376]beget[H3205] an hundred[H3967] children, and live[H2421]many[H7227]years[H8141], so that the days[H3117] of his years[H8141] be many[H7227], and his soul[H5315] be not filled[H7646] with good[H2896], and also that he have no burial[H6900]; I say[H559], that an untimely birth[H5309] is better[H2896] than he.
4
For he cometh[H935] in with vanity[H1892], and departeth[H3212] in darkness[H2822], and his name[H8034] shall be covered[H3680] with darkness[H2822].
5
Moreover he hath not seen[H7200] the sun[H8121], nor known[H3045] any thing: this[H2088] hath more rest[H5183]than[H2088] the other.
6
Yea, though[H432] he live[H2421] a thousand[H505]years[H8141]twice[H6471] told, yet hath he seen[H7200] no good[H2896]: do not all go[H1980] to one[H259]place?[H4725]
7
All the labour[H5999] of man[H120] is for his mouth[H6310], and yet the appetite[H5315] is not filled[H4390].
8
For what hath the wise[H2450]more[H3148] than the fool?[H3684] what hath the poor[H6041], that knoweth[H3045] to walk[H1980] before the living?[H2416]
9Better[H2896] is the sight[H4758] of the eyes[H5869] than the wandering[H1980] of the desire[H5315]: this is also vanity[H1892] and vexation[H7469] of spirit[H7307].
10
That which hath been is named[H7121]already[H3528], and it is known[H3045] that it is man[H120]: neither may[H3201] he contend[H1777] with him that is mightier[H8623] than he.
11
Seeing there be[H3426]many[H7235]things[H1697] that increase[H7235]vanity[H1892], what is man[H120] the better?[H3148]
12
For who knoweth[H3045] what is good[H2896] for man[H120] in this life[H2416], all[H4557] the days[H3117] of his vain[H1892]life[H2416] which he spendeth[H6213] as a shadow?[H6738] for who can tell[H5046] a man[H120] what shall be after[H310] him under the sun?[H8121]