Dual Panel1Here is <03426> another misfortune <07451> that <0834> I have seen <07200> on <08478> earth <08121>, and it weighs <07227> heavily on <05921> people <0120>:
2God <0430> gives <05414> a man <0376> riches <06239>, property, and wealth <05233> so that he lacks <02638> nothing <0369> that <0834> his heart <05315> desires <0183>, yet God <0430> does not <03808> enable <07980> him <04480> to enjoy <0398> the fruit of his labor– instead <03588>, someone <0376> else <05237> enjoys <0398> it! This <02088> is fruitless <01892> and a grave <07451> misfortune <02483>.
3Even if <0518> a man <0376> fathers <03205> a hundred <03967> children and lives <02421> many <07227> years <08141>– even if he lives <05315> a long, long <07227> time <03117>, but cannot <03808> enjoy <07646> his prosperity <02896>– even if <01571> he were <01961> to live forever <03808> <06900>– I would say <0559>, “A stillborn child <05309> is better off <02896> than <04480> he is!”
4Though <03588> the stillborn child came <0935> into the world for no reason <01892> and departed <01980> into darkness <02822>, though its name <08034> is shrouded <03680> in darkness <02822>,
5though <01571> it never <03808> saw <07200> the light of day <08121> nor <03808> knew <03045> anything, yet it has more rest <05183> than that man–
6if <0432> he should live <02421> a thousand <0505> years <08141> twice <06471>, yet does not <03808> enjoy <07200> his prosperity <02896>. For both <03605> <0259> of them die <01980> <04725> <0413> <03808>!
7All <03605> of man’s <0120> labor <05999> is for nothing more than to fill his stomach <06310>– yet <01571> his appetite <05315> is never <03808> satisfied <04390>!
8So <03588> what <04100> advantage <03148> does a wise <02450> man have over <04480> a fool <03684>? And what <04100> advantage does a pauper <06041> gain by knowing <03045> how to survive <02416> <05048> <01980>?
9It is better <02896> to be content with what the eyes <05869> can see <04758> than <01571> for one’s heart <05315> always to crave <01980> more. This <02088> continual longing is futile <01892>– like chasing <07469> the wind <07307>.
10Whatever <04100> has happened was <01961> foreordained <08034> <07121> <03528>, and what happens to a person <0120> was also foreknown <03045>. It is useless <03201> <03808> for him <01931> to argue <01777> with <05973> God about his fate because God is more powerful <08630> than <04480> he is.
11The more <07235> one argues with words <01697>, the less he accomplishes <07235>. How <04100> does that benefit <03148> him <0120>?
12For <03588> no one <04310> knows <03045> what <04100> is best <02896> for a person <0120> during his life <02416>– during the few <04557> days <03117> of his fleeting <01892> life <02416>– for they pass away <06213> like a shadow <06738>. Nor can anyone <0120> tell <05046> him what <04100> the future will hold <0310> for <08478> him on earth <08121>.