6
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?