The Futility of Life
The Teacher names another heavy evil: a man may receive riches, wealth, honor, many children, and long years, yet God may withhold the ability to enjoy those gifts so that a stranger enjoys them instead. In so stark a case, even a stillborn child is said to have more rest than the prosperous man, because however long he lives without true enjoyment, both still come to the same end.
T1here is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind: 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction. 3A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity. 5The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man, 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
All human labor feeds the mouth, yet appetite is never finally satisfied, leaving the wise and the poor with no decisive advantage in securing fulfillment. Because wandering desire remains unquiet, the Teacher concludes that it is better to receive what lies before the eyes than to chase after cravings that only amount to futility and wind-chasing.
7All a man’s labor is for his mouth, 8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
What exists has long been named, and human beings cannot contend with one stronger than themselves, so argument and multiplied words only increase futility rather than profit. Since no one truly knows what is good during the few days of life that pass like a shadow, and no one can tell what comes afterward under the sun, the chapter ends in humility before human limits.
10Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11For the more words, the more futility — and how does that profit anyone? 12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?