6 There
is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 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 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
he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall
be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover
he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than
the other.
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
the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For
what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth
to walk before the living? 9 Better
is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also
vanity and vexation of spirit. 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 Seeing
there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 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?