Ecclesiastes

¹ I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men:

² God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

³ A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

⁴ It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

⁵ Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—

⁶ even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

⁷ yet his appetite is never satisfied.

⁸ over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others?

⁹ than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

¹⁰ and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he.

¹¹ the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

¹² For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?