Ecclesiastes 6

6I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: ²God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,^j and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.^k

³A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn^l child is better off than he.^{m 4}It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—⁶even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?ⁿ

⁷Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,

yet their appetite is never satisfied.^o

⁸What advantage have the wise over fools?^p

What do the poor gain

by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?

⁹Better what the eye sees

than the roving of the appetite.

This too is meaningless,

a chasing after the wind.^q

¹⁰Whatever exists has already been named,^r

and what humanity is has been known;

no one can contend

with someone who is stronger.

¹¹The more the words,

the less the meaning,

and how does that profit anyone?

¹²For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days^s they pass through like a shadow?^t Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?