Dual Panel1Here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on the human race.
2Consider someone to whom God grants wealth, riches, and substance, and who lacks nothing that his heart is set on: if God has not given him the power to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them instead, that is futility and a dire affliction.
3Or someone may have a hundred children and live to a great age; but however many his days may be, if he does not gain satisfaction from the good things of life and in the end receives no burial, then I maintain that the stillborn child is in better case than he.
4Its coming is a futile thing, it departs into darkness, and in darkness its name is hidden;
5it has never seen the sun or known anything, yet its state is better than his.
6What if the man should live a thousand years twice over, and have no enjoyment? Do not both go to the same place?
7The end of all man's toil is but to fill his belly, yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8What advantage then in facing life has the wise man over the fool, or what advantage has the pauper for all his experience?
9It is better to be satisfied with what is before your eyes than to give rein to desire; this too is futility and a chasing of the wind.
10Whatever exists has already been given a name; it is known what human beings are and they cannot contend with one who is stronger than they.
11The more words used the greater is the futility of it all; and where is the advantage to anyone?
12For who can know what is good for anyone in this life, this brief span of futile existence through which one passes like a shadow? What is to happen afterwards here under the sun, who can tell?