1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] great upon mankind: VP
2 A man [for] whom God has given to him riches and wealth and honor, and he has no lack for his soul from all that; he desires and God does not give him power to eat from it; instead a foreign man eats it. This [is] vapor, and it [is] a sickening evil. VP
3 If a man begets a hundred and lives many years, and many are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from this goodness, and also not is unto him a grave, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. VP
4 For in vapor he comes, and in darkness he goes, and in darkness his name is covered. VP
5 Even he has not seen the sun and has not known it, more rest [is] unto this one than this one. VP
6 And though he might live a thousand years twice over, and has not seen goodness, are not all are going to one place? VP
7 All the toil of man [is] for his mouth, yet the soul is not filled. VP
8 Indeed, what advantage [is] for the wise one over the fool? What [is] to the poor one knowing how to walk before the living? VP
9 Better is a sight of the eyes than the wandering of the soul; this also [is] vapor and a striving after the wind. VP
10 That which has come to be, already its name has been called; and it is known that he [is] man, and he is not able to contend with one stronger than he. VP
11 For there are many words, multiplying vapor—what advantage [is] for man? VP
12 For who knows what [is] good for man in life all the days of the life of his vapor, and he makes them like a shadow? For who can declare to man what will come to be after him under the sun? VP