There is an evil
which I have seen
under the sun
, and it is common
among men
:
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
.
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.
For he cometh in with vanity
, and departeth
in darkness
, and his name
shall be covered
with darkness
.
Moreover he hath not seen the sun
, nor known
any thing : this
hath more rest
than
the other.
Yea, though he live
a thousand
years
twice
told , yet hath he seen
no good
: do not all go
to one
place
?
All the labour of man
is for his mouth
, and yet the appetite
is not filled
.
For what hath the wise more
than the fool
? what hath the poor
, that knoweth
to walk
before the living
?
Better is the sight
of the eyes
than the wandering
of the desire
: this is also vanity
and vexation
of spirit
.
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.
Seeing there be many
things
that increase
vanity
, what is man
the better
?
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
?