Ecclesiastes, 6

1. I see another evil under the sun, which goes hard with people:

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

2. suppose someone has received from God riches, property, honours -- nothing at all left to wish for; but God does not give the chance to enjoy them, and some stranger enjoys them. This is futile, and grievous suffering too.

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. Or take someone who has had a hundred children and lived for many years, and, having reached old age, has never enjoyed the good things of life and has not even got a tomb; it seems to me, a still-born child is happier.

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. In futility it came, into darkness it departs, and in darkness will its name be buried.

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

5. It has never so much as seen or known the sun; all the same, it will rest more easily than that person,

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

6. who would never have known the good things of life, even by living a thousand years twice over. Do we not all go to the same place in the end?

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 toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.

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

8. What advantage has the wise over the fool? And what of the pauper who knows how to behave in society?

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

9. Better the object seen than the sting of desire: for the latter too is futile and chasing after the wind.

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

10. What has been is already defined -- we know what people are: They cannot bring to justice one who is stronger than themselves.

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. The more we say, the more futile it is: what good can we derive from it?

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

12. And who knows what is best for someone during life, during the days of futile life which are spent like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

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?