| | 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 | All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. | |
| | 8 | What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others? | |
| | 9 | Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. | |
| | 10 | Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he. | |
| | 11 | The more the words, 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? | |
