6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon men:
6:1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind:

6:2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore affliction.
6:2 those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.

6:3 If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but he does not enjoy life's good things, and also has no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better off than he.
6:3 A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

6:4 For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;
6:4 For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;

6:5 moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.
6:5 moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.

6:6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice told, yet enjoy no good -- do not all go to the one place?
6:6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good--do not all go to one place?

6:7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
6:7 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied.

6:8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?
6:8 For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?

6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

6:10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
6:10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger.

6:11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is man the better?
6:11 The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?

6:12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
6:12 For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun?