1   Here is an evil under the sun which I have seen, and it weighs heavy upon men. 2   Consider the man to whom God grants wealth, riches, and

The emptiness of all endeavour substance, ^note and who lacks nothing that he has set his heart on: if God has not given him the power to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them instead, that is emptiness and a grave disorder. 3   A man may have a hundred children and live a long life; but however many his days may be, if he does not get satisfaction from the good things of life and in the end receives no burial, then I maintain that the still-born child is in better case than he. 4   Its coming is an empty thing, it departs into darkness, and in darkness its name is hidden; 5   it has never seen the sun or known anything, ^note yet its state is better than his. 6   What if a man should live a thousand years twice over, and never prosper? Do not both go to one place?

7   The end of all man's toil is but to fill his belly, ^note yet his appetite is never satisfied. 8   What advantage then in facing life has the wise man over the fool, or the poor man for all his experience? 9   It is better to be satisfied with what is before your eyes than give rein to desire; this too is emptiness and chasing the wind. 10   Whatever has already existed has been given a name, its nature is known; a man cannot contend with what is stronger than he. 11   The more words one uses the greater is the emptiness of it all; and where is the advantage to a man? 12   For who can know what is good for a man in this life, this brief span of empty existence through which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what is to happen next here under the sun?

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