| New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men-- | 1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people: |
| 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, 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. |
| 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, | 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!" |
| 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. | 4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, |
| 5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. | 5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man-- |
| 6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?" | 6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die! |
| 7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. | 7All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach--yet his 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? | 8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive? |
| 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving 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 already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. | 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. |
| 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? | 11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? |
| 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 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. |
| 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 | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
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