There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man may have riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacks nothing his soul desires, yet he hath not the power to enjoy them: instead a stranger enjoys them all. This is vanity, and it is a grievous evil.
A man begets a hundred children, and lives many years so that the days of his years be many, yet if his soul be not satisfied with his goodness, or if he has no burial; I say that a stillborn child is better than he – for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is shrouded with darkness. Though it has never seen the sun, nor known any thing, it has more rest than that man. Yea, though he might live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good. Do not all go to one place?
All the labour of man is for his mouth,
and yet his appetite is never satisfied.
For what hath the wise more than the foolish?
What hath the poor, by knowing how to walk before others?
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire.
This is also vanity and grasping for the wind.
Whatever one is, he has been named already,
for it is known that he is man;
and he may not contend with any who is mightier than he.
The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
For who knows what is good for man in this life, the few days of his vain life which he passes through like a shadow?
For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
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