| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common 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 he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil 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 begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better 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 vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. | 4For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. |
| 5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, | 5Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. |
| 6even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. 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 the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. | 7All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied. |
| 8For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows 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? |
| 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 9Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 10Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. | 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. |
| 11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? | 11For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man? |
| 12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen 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? |
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