1 There is|strong="H3426" an evil|strong="H7451" which I have seen|strong="H7200" under the sun|strong="H8121", and it is common|strong="H7227" among men|strong="H0120":
2 A man|strong="H0376" to whom God|strong="H0430" hath given|strong="H5414" riches|strong="H6239", wealth|strong="H5233", and honour|strong="H3519", so that he wanteth|strong="H2638" nothing for his soul|strong="H5315" of all that he desireth|strong="H0183", yet God|strong="H0430" giveth him not power|strong="H7980" to eat|strong="H0398" thereof, but a stranger|strong="H0376" eateth|strong="H0398" it: this is vanity|strong="H1892", and it is an evil|strong="H7451" disease|strong="H2483".
3 If a man|strong="H0376" beget|strong="H3205" an hundred|strong="H3967" children, and live|strong="H2421" many|strong="H7227" years|strong="H8141", so that the days|strong="H3117" of his years|strong="H8141" be many|strong="H7227", and his soul|strong="H5315" be not filled|strong="H7646" with good|strong="H2896", and also that he have no burial|strong="H6900"; I say|strong="H0559", that an untimely birth|strong="H5309" is better|strong="H2896" than he.
4 For he cometh|strong="H0935" in with vanity|strong="H1892", and departeth|strong="H3212" in darkness|strong="H2822", and his name|strong="H8034" shall be covered|strong="H3680" with darkness|strong="H2822".
5 Moreover he hath not seen|strong="H7200" the sun|strong="H8121", nor known|strong="H3045" any thing: this|strong="H2088" hath more rest|strong="H5183" than|strong="H2088" the other.
6 Yea, though|strong="H0432" he live|strong="H2421" a thousand|strong="H0505" years|strong="H8141" twice|strong="H6471" told, yet hath he seen|strong="H7200" no good|strong="H2896": do not all go|strong="H1980" to one|strong="H0259" place|strong="H4725"?
7 All the labour|strong="H5999" of man|strong="H0120" is for his mouth|strong="H6310", and yet the appetite|strong="H5315" is not filled|strong="H4390".
8 For what hath the wise|strong="H2450" more|strong="H3148" than the fool|strong="H3684"? what hath the poor|strong="H6041", that knoweth|strong="H3045" to walk|strong="H1980" before the living|strong="H2416"?
9 Better|strong="H2896" is the sight|strong="H4758" of the eyes|strong="H5869" than the wandering|strong="H1980" of the desire|strong="H5315": this is also vanity|strong="H1892" and vexation|strong="H7469" of spirit|strong="H7307".
10 That which hath been is named|strong="H7121" already|strong="H3528", and it is known|strong="H3045" that it is man|strong="H0120": neither may|strong="H3201" he contend|strong="H1777" with him that is mightier|strong="H8623" than he.
11 Seeing there be|strong="H3426" many|strong="H7235" things|strong="H1697" that increase|strong="H7235" vanity|strong="H1892", what is man|strong="H0120" the better|strong="H3148"?
12 For who knoweth|strong="H3045" what is good|strong="H2896" for man|strong="H0120" in this life|strong="H2416", all|strong="H4557" the days|strong="H3117" of his vain|strong="H1892" life|strong="H2416" which he spendeth|strong="H6213" as a shadow|strong="H6738"? for who can tell|strong="H5046" a man|strong="H0120" what shall be after|strong="H0310" him under the sun|strong="H8121"?