| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New International Version |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men-- | 1I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: |
| 2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction. | 2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. |
| 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he, | 3A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. |
| 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. | 4It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. |
| 5"It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. | 5Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man-- |
| 6"Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?" | 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place? |
| 7All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. | 7Everyone's toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied. |
| 8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? | 8What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others? |
| 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. | 9Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
| 10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. | 10Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger. |
| 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? | 11The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? |
| 12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? | 12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone? |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|
    |