| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: | 1There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: |
| 2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. | 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. |
| 3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. | 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, |
| 4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. | 4because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. |
| 5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. | 5Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. |
| 6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? | 6Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best—aren't all of them going to the same place? |
| 7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. | 7Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied. |
| 8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? | 8For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life? |
| 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. | 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. |
| 10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. | 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. |
| 11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? | 11Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? |
| 12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? | 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? |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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