There is an ^aevil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent ¹among men— 2 a man to whom God ^agives riches and wealth and honor so that his soul ^blacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God does not empower him to eat from them, for a foreigner eats from them. This is ¹vanity and a sickening evil. 3 If a man becomes the father of one hundred children and lives many years, however many the days of his years may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even have a proper ^aburial, then I say, “Better ^bthe miscarriage than he, 4 for that one comes in vanity and goes into darkness; and that one’s name is covered in darkness. 5 Indeed, that one never sees the sun and never knows anything; ¹that one has more rest than he. 6 Even if the other man lives one thousand years twice and does not see good things—^ado not all go to the same place?”

7 ^aAll a man’s labor is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not fulfilled. 8 For ^awhat advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the afflicted man have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes ^asee is better than what the soul goes after. This too is ^bvanity and striving after wind.

10 Whatever ^aexists has already been named, and it is known what man is; and he ^bcannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase vanity. What then is the advantage to a man? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a ^ashadow. For who can tell a man ^bwhat will be after him under the sun?

There is an ^aevil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread ¹among mankind: 2 a person to whom God has ^agiven riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul ^blacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to ¹enjoy these things, but a foreigner ²enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many ¹they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper ^aburial, then I say, “Better ^bthe miscarriage than he, 4 for a miscarriage comes in futility and goes into darkness; and its name is covered in darkness. 5 It has not even seen the sun nor does it know it; yet ¹it is better off than that man. 6 Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—^ado not all go to one and the same place?”

7 ^aAll a person’s labor is for his mouth, and yet ¹his appetite is not ²satisfied. 8 For ^awhat advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes ^asee is better than what the soul ¹desires. This too is ^bfutility and striving after wind.

10 Whatever ^aexists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he ^bcannot dispute with the ¹one who is mightier than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person? 12 For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few ¹years of his futile life? He will ²spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person ^awhat will happen after him under the sun?

There is an ^aevil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent ¹among men— 2 a man to whom God has ^agiven riches and wealth and honor so that his soul ^blacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner ¹enjoys them. This is ²vanity and a severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many ¹they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper ^aburial, then I say, “Better ^bthe miscarriage than he, 4 for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5 It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; ¹it is better off than he. 6 Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not ¹enjoy good things—^ado not all go to one place?”

7 ^aAll a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the ¹appetite is not ²satisfied. 8 For ^awhat advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes ^asee is better than what the soul ¹desires. This too is ^bfutility and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever ^aexists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he ^bcannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few ¹years of his futile life? He will ²spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man ^awhat will be after him under the sun?

There is an ^aevil which I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 a man to whom God has ^agiven riches and wealth and honor, so that he ^blacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the power or capacity to enjoy them all those things which are gifts from God, but a stranger in whom he has no interest succeeds him and enjoys them. This is vanity and it is a cause of great distress. Luke 12:20 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he is not respected and is not given a proper ^aburial he is not laid to rest in the sepulcher of his fathers, then I say, “Better ^bthe miscarriage than he, Job 3:16 4 for the miscarriage comes in futility (in vain) and passes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5 It has not seen the sun nor had any knowledge; yet it has more rest and is better off than he. 6 Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment—^ado not both go to one place the grave?”

7 ^aAll the labor of man is for his mouth for self-preservation and enjoyment, and yet the desire of his soul is not satisfied. Prov 16:26 8 For ^awhat advantage has the wise man over the fool for being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk publicly among the living with men’s eyes on him; for being poor is not the secret to happiness either? 9 What the ^aeyes see enjoying what is available is better than craving what the soul desires. This too is ^bfutility and chasing after the wind.

10 Whatever ^aexists has already been named long ago, and it is known what a frail being man is; for he ^bcannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he. 11 For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man? 12 For who ¹limited by human wisdom knows what is good for man during his lifetime, during the few days of his futile life? He spends them like a shadow staying busy, but achieving nothing of lasting value. For who can tell a man ^awhat will happen after him to his work, his treasure, his plans under the sun after his life is over?