Ecclesiastes — Chapter 6

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

2God 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.

3A 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12For 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?

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

2A 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.

3If 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.

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

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

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

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

8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10That 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.

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

12For 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?

1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

2a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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

4for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

5moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

6yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?

7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

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

1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor— instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity— even if he were to live forever— I would say, “A stillborn child is better off than he is.”

4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,

5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man—

6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

7All man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach— yet his appetite is never satisfied!

8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile—like chasing the wind.

10Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life— during the few days of his fleeting life— for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:

2a 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.

3If 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:

4for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

5Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?

7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

10Whatever 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.

11For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

12For 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?