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

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

A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all he desires, yet God does not give him the power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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 begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, yet his soul is not filled with good, and indeed he has no burial; I say, that a premature birth is better 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.

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

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

Moreover, it has not seen the sun nor known anything: this has more rest than the other.

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

Yes, even if he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good: do not all go to one place?

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

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

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

For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?

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 desire: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

That which has been is already named, and it is known that it is man: nor can he contend with one mightier than he.

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.

Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?

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

For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

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?