Ecclesiastes 6

¹There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.

²It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

³If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.

⁴For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.

⁵He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.

⁶Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?

⁷Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.

⁸What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?

⁹It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.

¹⁰Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.

¹¹There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.

Ecclesiastes 6

¹There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:

²A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.

³If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he.

⁴For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten.

⁵He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil:

⁶Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good things: do not all make haste to one place?

⁷All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled.

⁸What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

⁹Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit.

¹⁰He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself.

¹¹There are many words that have much vanity in disputing.