Ecclesiastes 6

¹Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, ^a and it weighs heavily on humanity: ^{b 2}God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor ^c so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, ^d but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. ³A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, ^e if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, ^f I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. ^{g 4}For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. ⁵Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. ⁶And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?

⁷All of a person’s labor is for his stomach, ^h,ⁱ

yet the appetite is never satisfied.

⁸What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? ^j What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? ⁹Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. ^k This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ^l,^m

¹⁰Whatever exists was given its name long ago, ⁿ,^o and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he. ^{p 11}For when there are many words, they increase futility. ^q What is the advantage for mankind? ¹²For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? ^r Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?