Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:

2 God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

4 For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.

5 The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,

6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?

9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

11 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?

12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

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

2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that 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 it [is] an evil disease.

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

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known [any thing]: this hath more rest than the other.

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

7 ¶ All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 For what hath the wise more than 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 [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it [is] man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better?

12 For who knoweth what [is] good for man in [this] 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?

1 It is a calamity that I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

2 One to whom God hath given riches, goods, and honor, and lacketh none that his heart desireth, and yet God giveth him not power to enjoy them, but another devoureth them: this is vain and an evil plague.

3 If he beget an hundred children, and live so long, that he live many years, and his soul be not satisfied with good, and remain without a grave, of him I say that untimely birth is better than he.

4 For in vanity he cometh, and in darkness he passeth away, and his name abideth in darkness,

5 Is not glad of the sun, and knows no rest either here or there.

6 Though he live two thousand years, yet hath he no good courage. Is it not all in one place?

7 To every man is laid up work according to his measure: but the heart cannot keep it up.

8 For what doth a wise man judge more than a fool? What dare Anne, that he should be among the living?

9 It is better to use the present good, than to think of other things. This is also vanity and misery.

10 What is the matter, though a man be highly renowned, yet know ye that he is a man, and be not grieved with that which is too mighty for him?

11 For the vain thing is too much: what hath a man more of it?