|
|
|
|
1. Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity:
|
1. There is H3426 an evil H7451 which H834 I have seen H7200 under H8478 the sun H8121 , and it H1931 is common H7227 among H5921 men H120 :
|
|
2. God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy.
|
2. A man H376 to whom H834 God H430 hath given H5414 riches H6239 , wealth H5233 , and honor H3519 , so that he wanteth H2638 nothing H369 for his soul H5315 of all H4480 H3605 that H834 he desireth H183 , yet God H430 giveth him not power H7980 H3808 to eat H398 thereof H4480 , but H3588 a stranger H376 H5237 eateth H398 it: this H2088 is vanity H1892 , and it H1931 is an evil H7451 disease H2483 .
|
|
3. A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
|
3. If H518 a man H376 beget H3205 a hundred H3967 children , and live H2421 many H7227 years H8141 , so that the days H3117 of his years H8141 be H7945 H1961 many H7227 , and his soul H5315 be not H3808 filled H7646 with H4480 good H2896 , and also H1571 that he have H1961 no H3808 burial H6900 ; I say H559 , that an untimely birth H5309 is better H2896 than H4480 he.
|
|
4. For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.
|
4. For H3588 he cometh H935 in with vanity H1892 , and departeth H1980 in darkness H2822 , and his name H8034 shall be covered H3680 with darkness H2822 .
|
|
5. Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he.
|
5. Moreover H1571 he hath not H3808 seen H7200 the sun H8121 , nor H3808 known H3045 any thing : this H2088 hath more rest H5183 than the other H4480 H2088 .
|
|
6. And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?
|
6. Yea H432 , though he live H2421 a thousand H505 years H8141 twice H6471 told , yet hath he seen H7200 no H3808 good H2896 : do not H3808 all H3605 go H1980 to H413 one H259 place H4725 ?
|
|
7. All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
|
7. All H3605 the labor H5999 of man H120 is for his mouth H6310 , and yet H1571 the appetite H5315 is not H3808 filled H4390 .
|
|
8. What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?
|
8. For H3588 what H4100 hath the wise H2450 more H3148 than H4480 the fool H3684 ? what H4100 hath the poor H6041 , that knoweth H3045 to walk H1980 before H5048 the living H2416 ?
|
|
9. Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
|
9. Better H2896 is the sight H4758 of the eyes H5869 than the wandering H4480 H1980 of the desire H5315 : this H2088 is also H1571 vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit H7307 .
|
|
10. Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and who man is, is known. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he.
|
10. That H4100 which hath been H7945 H1961 is named H7121 H8034 already H3528 , and it is known H3045 that H834 it H1931 is man H120 : neither H3808 may H3201 he contend H1777 with H5973 him that is mightier H7945 H8623 than H4480 he.
|
|
11. For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?
|
11. Seeing H3588 there be H3426 many H7235 things H1697 that increase H7235 vanity H1892 , what H4100 is man H120 the better H3148 ?
|
|
12. For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?
|
12. For H3588 who H4310 knoweth H3045 what H4100 is good H2896 for man H120 in this life H2416 , all H4557 the days H3117 of his vain H1892 life H2416 which he spendeth H6213 as a shadow H6738 ? for H834 who H4310 can tell H5046 a man H120 what H4100 shall be H1961 after H310 him under H8478 the sun H8121 ?
|