1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.

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

2 God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.

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 A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

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 it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.

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

5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.

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

6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

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

7 All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

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

8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

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

9 Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

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

10 Whatever exists has already been given its name, and it is known what mankind is; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.

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 words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

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

12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

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?