King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
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There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
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those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.
3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
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A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
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For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;
5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
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moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.
6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
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Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
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All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
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For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
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Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger.
11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
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The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
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For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun?
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.