Ecclesiastes 6

6Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun,ⁿ and it weighs heavily on humanity:^{C 2}God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor^o so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself,^p but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. ³A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives,^A if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial,^q I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.^{r 4}For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. ⁵Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. ⁶And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?

⁷All of a person’s labor is for his stomach,^Bs

yet the appetite is never satisfied.

⁸What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool?^t What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? ⁹Better what the eyes see than wandering desire.^u This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^Cv

¹⁰Whatever exists was given its name long ago,^Dw and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he.^{x 11}For when there are many words, they increase futility.^y What is the advantage for mankind? ¹²For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow?^z Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?