| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common 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 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, 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 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— | 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 vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. | 4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, |
| 5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, | 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—but has not seen goodness. 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 the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul 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 more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows 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? |
| 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the 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 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 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. |
| 11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? | 11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? |
| 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 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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