Ecclesiastes 6

¹ There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
and it weighs heavily on humanity:

² God gives a person wealth, possessions, and honor—
nothing lacking of all they desire—
yet God does not let them enjoy it;
a stranger consumes it instead.
This is a fleeting breath, a grievous sickness.

³ If a man fathers a hundred children
and lives many years—
however many his days—
but his soul is never satisfied with good,
and he has no burial,
I say: a stillborn child is better off than he.

⁴ For it comes in a breath of vapor
and departs into darkness,
and its name is covered in shadow.

⁵ Though it never sees the sun
or knows anything,
it has more rest than that man.

⁶ Even if he lives a thousand years twice over
but never enjoys good—
do not all go to the same place?

⁷ All human toil is for the mouth,
yet the appetite is never satisfied.

⁸ What advantage has the wise over the fool?
What advantage has the poor person
who knows how to conduct himself before the living?

⁹ Better what the eyes see
than the wandering of desire.
This too is a fleeting breath,
a chasing after wind.

¹⁰ Whatever exists has already been named,
and it is known what a human being is—
he cannot contend with the one
who is stronger than he.

¹¹ The more words, the more futility.
What advantage is there for anyone?

¹² For who knows what is good for a person in life—
the few days of their fleeting life,
which they pass through like a shadow?
Who can tell anyone
what will come after them under the sun?