Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:2 a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:4 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;5 moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:6 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.8 For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.10 Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.11 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?12 For who knoweth what is good for man in his 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?

Ecclesiastes 6

Not Everyone Enjoys Life

1 Here ist another misfortunet that I have seen on earth,t
and it weighst heavily on people:t

2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth
so that he lacks nothing that his heartt desires,t
yet God does not enablet him to enjoyt the fruit of his labort –
instead, someone elset enjoyst it!s
This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.t

3 Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years –
even if he lives a long, long time,t but cannot enjoy his prosperity –
even if he were to live forevert –
I would say, “A stillborn childt is better off than he is!”s

4 Though the stillborn childt came into the worldt for no reasons and departed into darkness,
though its name is shrouded in darkness,s

5 though it never saw the light of dayt nor knew anything,t
yet it has more rests than that man –

6 if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity.
For both of them die!t

7 All of man’s labor is for nothing more thant to fill his stomacht –
yet his appetitet is never satisfied!

8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?s
And what advantages does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?t

9 It is better to be content witht what the eyes can seet
than for one’s heart always to crave more.t
This continual longingt is futile – liket chasing the wind.

The Futile Way Life Works

10 Whatever has happened was foreordained,t
and what happens to a persont was also foreknown.
It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate
because God is more powerful than he is.t

11 The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes.t
How does that benefit him?t

12 For no one knows what is best for a person during his lifet –
during the few days of his fleeting life –
fort they pass awayt like a shadow.
Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.t