The Futility of Life

1There is an euill, which I sawe vnder the sunne, and it is much among men: 2A man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth: but God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a strange man shall eate it vp: this is vanitie, and this is an euill sicknesse. 3If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, & his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he. 4For he commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse: and his name shall be couered with darkenesse. 5Also he hath not seene ye sunne, nor knowen it: therefore this hath more rest then the other. 6And if he had liued a thousand yeeres twise tolde, and had seene no good, shall not all goe to one place?

7All the labour of man is for his mouth: yet the soule is not filled. 8For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing? 9The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, & vexation of spirit.

10What is that that hath bene? the name thereof is nowe named: and it is knowen that it is man: and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he. 11(7:1) Svrely there be many things that increase vanitie: and what auaileth it man? 12(7:2) For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the nomber of the dayes of the life of his vanitie, seeing he maketh them as a shadowe? For who can shewe vnto man what shall be after him vnder the sunne?