3
If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that 1the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's 2good things, and he also has no 3burial, I say that 4a stillborn child is better off than he.
4
For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.
5
Moreover, it has not 5seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds 6rest rather than he.
6
Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good--do not all go to the one place?
7
7All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8
For what advantage has the wise man 8over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?
9
Better 9is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is 10vanity and a striving after wind.
10
Whatever has come to be has 11already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to 12dispute with one stronger than he.
11
The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
12
For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his 13vain life, which he passes like 14a shadow? For who can tell man what will be 15after him under the sun?