| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men-- | 1Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: |
| 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. | 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. |
| 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, | 3A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. |
| 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. | 4For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. |
| 5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. | 5Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. |
| 6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?" | 6And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place? |
| 7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. | 7All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied. |
| 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? | 8What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? |
| 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. | 9Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 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. | 10Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is known what man is. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he. |
| 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? | 11For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man? |
| 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? | 12For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun? |
| 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 | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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