Ecclesiastes - The Old Testament

¹ I see another evil under the sun, which goes hard with people:

² suppose someone has received from God riches, property, honours -- nothing at all left to wish for; but God does not give the chance to enjoy them, and some stranger enjoys them. This is futile, and grievous suffering too.

³ Or take someone who has had a hundred children and lived for many years, and, having reached old age, has never enjoyed the good things of life and has not even got a tomb; it seems to me, a still-born child is happier.

⁴ In futility it came, into darkness it departs, and in darkness will its name be buried.

⁵ It has never so much as seen or known the sun; all the same, it will rest more easily than that person,

⁶ who would never have known the good things of life, even by living a thousand years twice over. Do we not all go to the same place in the end?

⁷ All toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.

⁸ What advantage has the wise over the fool? And what of the pauper who knows how to behave in society?

⁹ Better the object seen than the sting of desire: for the latter too is futile and chasing after the wind.

¹⁰ What has been is already defined -- we know what people are: They cannot bring to justice one who is stronger than themselves.

¹¹ The more we say, the more futile it is: what good can we derive from it?

¹² And who knows what is best for someone during life, during the days of futile life which are spent like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?