6 1 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his soul desires, yet God does not let him enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is fleeting, a grievous affliction.
3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years — no matter how many — but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even receive a burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than him. 4 For it comes in a fleeting breath and departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered over. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than that man. 6 Even if he lives a thousand years twice over but never enjoys any good, do not all go to the same place? 7 All a person's toil is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. 8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What does the poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others? 9 Better what the eyes can see than the wandering of desire. This too is fleeting, a chasing after the wind. 10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and what a person is has long been known; he cannot contend with one stronger than himself.
11 The more words, the more fleeting it all becomes, and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of his fleeting life, which he passes like a shadow? And who can tell anyone what will come after him under the sun?