The Futility of Life
1There isan evilwhich I have seenunder the sun,and it [is] commonamong men:2A manto whom Godhath givenriches,wealth,and honour,so that he wantethnothing for his soulof all that he desireth,yet Godgiveth him not powerto eatthereof, but a strangereatethit: this [is] vanity,and it [is] an evildisease.3If a manbegetan hundred[children], and livemanyyears,so that the daysof his yearsbe many,and his soulbe not filledwith good,and also [that] he have no burial;I say,[that] an untimely birth[is] betterthan he.4For he comethin with vanity,and departethin darkness,and his nameshall be coveredwith darkness.5Moreover he hath not seenthe sun,nor known[any thing]: thishath more restthanthe other.6Yea, thoughhe livea thousandyearstwice[told], yet hath he seenno good:do not all goto oneplace?
7All the labourof man[is] for his mouth,and yet the appetiteis not filled.8For what hath the wisemorethan the fool?what hath the poor,that knowethto walkbefore the living?9Better[is] the sightof the eyesthan the wanderingof the desire:this [is] also vanityand vexationof spirit.
10That which hath been is namedalready,and it is knownthat it [is] man:neither mayhe contendwith him that is mightierthan he.11Seeing there bemanythingsthat increasevanity,what [is] manthe better?12For who knowethwhat [is] goodfor manin [this] life,allthe daysof his vainlifewhich he spendethas a shadow?for who can tella manwhat shall be afterhim under the sun?
