1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: 2 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 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 for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other. 6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place? 7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how 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 chasing after wind. 10 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 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? 12 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?

1 There is [another] evil which I have seen under the sun, and it [is] very common among men:

2 A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honour so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but the strangers eat it; this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.

3 If a man begets a hundred [sons] and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, if his soul is not filled with good and also [that] he have no burial; I say [that] an aborted birth [is] better than he.

4 For he came in vain and departs unto darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5 Even though he has not seen the sun nor known [any thing]; this [one] has more rest than the other.

6 For though [the other should] live a thousand years twice and has not enjoyed good; both shall surely go to the same place.

7 All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and with all this the appetite is not filled.

8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what [more has] the poor that knows how to walk among the living?

9 It is better to enjoy the good that is present than the wandering of desire; this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10 He that is has been named already; and it is known that he [is] man and that he shall not be able to contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 Certainly the many words multiply vanity, what more does man have?

12 For who knows what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of the life of his vanity which he causes [to be] as a shadow? for who shall teach the man what shall be after him under the sun?: