1  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men

1  There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.

2  a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

2  a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.

2  It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

3  If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul have not enough of good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he;

3  If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.

4  for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

4  For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.

4  For he comes in with vanity, and shall go into darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5  moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other;

5  Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is no more rest to this one than another.

5  He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.

6  yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and enjoy no good; do not all go to one place?

6  Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?

6  Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?

7  All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

7  Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.

8  For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?

8  What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?

8  The wise man has an advantage over the fool. What! Does the poor man know how to go through life?

9  Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

9  The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.

9  It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.

10  Whatsoever cometh into being, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is foreknown what man is; neither can he contend with Him that is mightier than he.

10  If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.

10  Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.

11  Seeing there are many words that increase vanity, what is man the better?

11  For there are many things which increase vanity.

11  There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.

12  For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Eccl7:1  What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Eccl7:1  Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?