| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: | 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men-- |
| 2a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires—but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction. | 2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction. |
| 3A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long—but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is, | 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he, |
| 4because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. | 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. |
| 5Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. | 5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. |
| 6Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren't all of them going to the same place? | 6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?" |
| 7Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied. | 7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. |
| 8For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life? | 8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? |
| 9It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind. | 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. |
| 10Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human— and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he. | 10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. |
| 11Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? | 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? |
| 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them? | 12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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