1 THERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given 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.
3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this 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?

1There is an euill which I haue seen vnder the Sun, and it is common among men:

2A man to whom God hath giuen riches, wealth and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that he desireth, yet God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a stranger eateth it: This is vanitie, and it is an euill disease.

3 If a man beget an hundred children, and liue many yeeres, so that the dayes of his yeeres bee many: and his soule be not filled with good, and also that he haue no buriall, I say, that an vntimely birth is better then he.

4For he commeth in with vanitie, and departeth in darkenesse, and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.

5Moreouer hee hath not seene the Sunne, nor knowen any thing: this hath more rest then the other.

6 Yea though he liue a thousand yeeres twice told, yet hath he seene no good: Doe not all goe to one place?

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

8For what hath the wise more then the foole? what hath the poore, that knoweth to walke before the liuing?

9¶ Better is the sight of the eyes, then the wandering of the desire: this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.

10That which hath bene, is named already, and it is knowen that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier then he.

11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanitie, what is man the better?

12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the dayes of his vaine life, which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shal be after him vnder the sunne?

I == Eccl 5:13

II == Job 21:10 ; Ps 17:14 ; 73:7 ; Luke 12:20

III == 2nd Kings 9:35 ; Job 3:16 ; Ps 58:8 ; Eccl 4:3 ; Isa 14:19-20 ; Jer 22:19

VII == Prov 16:26

X == Job 9:32 ; Isa 45:9 ; Jer 49:19

XII == Ps 39:6 ; 102:11 ; 109:23 ; 144:4 ; Eccl 8:7 ; James 4:14

1 There is another evil which I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon man:

2 there is the man to whom God gives riches and property and honor, so that he lacks none of all the things he craves; yet God does not grant him power to partake of them, but a stranger devours them. This is vanity and a dire plague.

3 Should a man have a hundred children and live many years, no matter to what great age, still if he has not the full benefit of his goods, or if he is deprived of burial, of this man I proclaim that the child born dead is more fortunate than he.

4 Though it came in vain and goes into darkness and its name is enveloped in darkness;

5 though it has not seen or known the sun, yet the dead child is at rest rather than such a man.

6 Should he live twice a thousand years and not enjoy his goods, do not both go to the same place?

7 All man's toil is for his mouth, yet his desire is not fulfilled.

8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, or what advantage has the poor man in knowing how to conduct himself in life?

9 "What the eyes see is better than what the desires wander after." This also is vanity and a chase after wind.

10 Whatever is, was long ago given its name, and the nature of man is known, and that he cannot contend in judgment with one who is stronger than he.

11 For though there are many sayings that multiply vanity, what profit is there for a man?

12 For who knows what is good for a man in life, the limited days of his vain life (which God has made like a shadow)? Because-who is there to tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

v 1,2. Some gain great wealth, but by some misfortune or greed, God does not allow them to enjoy it. This is also frustrating.

v 3-6. If one has multiple wealth, multiple offspring and multiple years, yet lives a life of unhappiness and has improper burial, he is equated with a stillborn child. Both end up in the grave. The stillborn child, however, has not had the frustrations of the unhappy man.

v 7-10.  Rich always desire more, put so do many poor, so just be content with what you see you have. Don’t contend with God, or life goes on meaninglessly.

v 11-12. In his search for the meaning of life to this point, the Preacher concludes that there is little satisfaction in life other than eating and drinking and enjoying the fruit of ones labor. This is looking on things from a human view point. Solomon contrasts this with his spiritual insight in 12:13;14.