1There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon man (adam):
2A man (ish) to whom God gives riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul (nephesh) of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreign man (ish) eats it; this is vanity and an evil sickness.
3If a man (ish) begets a hundred and lives many years, and many be the days of his years, but his soul (nephesh) is not satisfied with the good, and also he has no burial; I say the stillborn is better than he;
4For in vanity it comes, and in darkness it goes, and in darkness its name is covered;
5Also it has not seen the sun nor known it; this one has more rest than that one;
6And though he live a thousand years twice over, and sees no good—do not all go to one place?
7All the labor of man (adam) is for his mouth, and yet the soul (nephesh) is not filled.
8For what advantage has the wise over the fool? What has the poor who knows how to walk before the living (chai)?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the soul (nephesh); this also is vanity and a striving of spirit (ruach).
10That which has been, its name was already called, and it is known that it is man (adam); and he is not able to contend with one mightier than he.
11For there are many words that increase vanity; what advantage to man (adam)?
12For who knows what is good for man (adam) in life (chai), the number of the days of his life (chai) of vanity, which he makes like a shadow? For who can tell man (adam) what shall be after him under the sun?