| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: | 1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people: |
| 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. | 2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor--instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune. |
| 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, | 3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years--even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity--even if he were to live forever--I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!" |
| 4because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. | 4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, |
| 5Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. | 5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man-- |
| 6Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren't all of them going to the same place? | 6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die! |
| 7Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied. | 7All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach--yet his appetite is never satisfied! |
| 8For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life? | 8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive? |
| 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. | 9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile--like chasing the 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 has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is. |
| 11Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? | 11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? |
| 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 no one knows what is best for a person during his life--during the few days of his fleeting life--for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth. |
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