Not Everyone Enjoys Life

6:1 Here is1 another misfortune2 that I have seen on earth,3

and it weighs4 heavily on people:5

6:2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth

so that he lacks nothing that his heart6 desires,7

yet God does not enable8 him to enjoy9 the fruit of his labor10—

instead, someone else11 enjoys12 it!13

This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.14

6:3 Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years—

even if he lives a long, long time,15 but cannot enjoy his prosperity—

even if he were to live forever16—

I would say, “A stillborn child17 is better off than he is!”18

6:4 Though the stillborn child19 came into the world20 for no reason21 and departed into darkness,

though its name is shrouded in darkness,22

6:5 though it never saw the light of day23 nor knew anything,24

yet it has more rest25 than that man—

6:6 if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity.

For both of them die!26

6:7 All of man’s labor is for nothing more than27 to fill his stomach28—

yet his appetite29 is never satisfied!

6:8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?30

And what advantage31 does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?32

6:9 It is better to be content with33 what the eyes can see34

than for one’s heart always to crave more.35

This continual longing36 is futile—like37 chasing the wind.